POEMS    OF    THE    REVOLUTION. 


POEMS 


RELATING    TO    THE 


AMERICAN    REVOLUTION 


BY 


PHILIP     FRENEAU. 


WITH    AN   INTRODUCTORY   MEMOIR    AND    NOTES. 


BY 


EVERT  A.  DUYCKINCK. 


NEW     YORK: 
W.    J.    WIDDLETON,   PUBLISHER. 

M.DCCC.LXV 


r.r.'?:rd  jcc-Min-/.  to  A«  of  Congref:-,  in  the  year  1865, 

By    W.  }.  W1DDI.K"  OK, 

the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Uiltrift  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 
ii)  o»~  New  York. 


CONTENTS. 


ft* 

INTRODUCTORY  MEMOIR vii 

POEMS. 

\/THE  RISING  GLORY  OF  AMERICA i 

To  THE  AMERICANS  ON  THE  APPROACH  OF  THE  HESSIANS 20 

EMANCIPATION  FROM  BRITISH  DEPENDENCE 23 

GENERAL  GAGE'S  SOLILOOJJY 25 

THE  MIDNIGHT  CONSULTATIONS:    OR  A  TRIP  TO  BOSTON 31 

AMERICA  INDEPENDENT 43 

ON  THE  NEW  AMERICAN  FRIGATE  ALLIANCE 56 

ON  THE  DEATH  OF  CAPTAIN  NICHOLAS  BIDDLZ 60 

GEORGE  THE  THIRD'S  SOLILOQUY... 65 

A  DIALOGUE  BETWEEN  GEORGE  AND  Fox 69 

THE  BRITISH   PRISON-SHIP 78 

CAPTAIN  JONES'S  INVITATION 102 

ON  THE  MEMORABLE  VICTORY  OF  THE  BON  HOMME  RICHARD 105 

AN  ANCIENT  PROPHECY m 

AN  ADDRESS   TO  THE  AMERICAN  ARMY 113 

A  NEW  YORK  TORY,  TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  PHILADELPHIA 117 

To  LORD  CORNWALLIS,  AT  YORK,  VIRGINIA 120 

A  LONDON  DIALOGUE,  BETWEEN  MY  LOKDS  DUNMORE  AND  GERMAINE 122 

LORD  CORNWALLIS  TO  SIR  HENRY  CLINTON 12.4 

ON  THE  FALL  OF  GENERAL  EARL  CORNWALLIS 127 

To  THE  MEMORY  OF  THE  BRAVE  AMERICANS 134 

THE  ROYAL  ADVENTURER 136 

LORD  DUNMORE'S  PETITION  TO  THE  LEGISLATURE  OF  VIRGINIA 139 

EPIGRAM 14; 

RIVINGTON'S  NEW  TITULAR  TYPES 144 

ON    MR.   RIVINGTON'S    NEW    ENGRAVED    KING'S    ARMS    TO    HIS    ROYAL 

GAZETTE 146 


S- 


\  I  CONTENTS. 

F* 

A  SPEECH  r  >R  THE  KING  o>   GREAT  BRITAIN 147 

KIVINGTON'S  LAST  WILL  AND  TESTAMENT 150 

THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE}   OK,  THE   FATES   or    BRITAIN    AND  AMERICA 

COMPARED 155 

SIB  HARRY'S  INVITATION 166 

DIALOGUE  AT  HYDE-PARK  CORNER,  (LONDON.) 168 

ON  THE  LATE  ROYAI.  SLOOP  or  WAR,  GENERAL  MONK 170 

BARNEY'S  INVITATION 171 

SONG,  ON  CAPTAIN  BARNEY'S  VICTORY  OVER  THE  SHIP  GENERAL  MONK...   174 

THE  HESSIAN  DEBARKATION 178 

THE  NORTHERN  SOLDIER 179 

TRUTH  ANTICIPATED 181 

ON  SIR  HENRY  CLINTON'S  RECALL 186 

SIR  GUY  CARLETON'S  ADDRESS  TO  THE  AMERICANS 190 

MODERN  IDOLATRY,  OR  ENGLISH  QUIXOTISM 194 

ON  GENERAL  ROBERTSON'S  PROCLAMATION 197 

ARNOLD'S  DEPARTURE 201 

A  PICTURE  or  THE  TIMESJ    WITH  OCCASIONAL  REJECTIONS 204 

PRINCE  WIM.IAM   HENRY'S  SOLILOQUY 207 

BEELZEBUB'S  REMONSTRANCE 210 

THE  REFLGLLS'  PETITION  TO  SIR  GUY  CARLETON 212 

SIR  GUY'S  ANSWER 213 

RIVINGTON'S  REFLECTIONS 215 

POLITICAL  BIOGRAPHY. — GAINE'S  LIKJ 224 

ON  THE  DEATH  or  COLONEL  LAURENS 241 

ON  THE  DEPARTURE  or  THE  BRITISH  FROM  CHARLESTON 243 

ON  THE  BRITISH  KING'S  SPEECH 246 

MANHATTAN  CITY 249 

A  NEW  YORK  TORY'S  EPISTLE  TO  ONE  or  HIS  FRIENDS  IN  PENNSYLVANIA....   251 

RIVINGTON'S  CONFESSIONS 256 

WASHINGTON'S  ARRIVAL  IN  PHILADELPHIA 266 

THE  TRIUMPHAL  ARCH 271 

ON  THE  DEATH  or  A  REPUBLICAN  PATRIOT  AND  STATESMAN 275 

A  RENEGADO  EPISTLE  TO  THE  INDEPENDENT  AMERICANS 277 

SALE  or  RAMSAY'S  HISTORY  PROHIBITED 281 

THE  PYRAMID  or  THE  FITTEEN  AMERICAN  STATES 283 


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PHILIP    FRENEAU. 


PHILIP  FRENEAU,  the  popular  poet  of  the  days 
of  the  Revolution,  who  cheered  the  hearts  of  the 
citizens  by  his  ready  rhymes  in  behalf  of  the  good  caufe, 
and  opposition  to  its  foes,  while  patriots  were  ftruggling 
for  independence,  was  born  in  Frankfort  Street,  in  the  City 
of  New  York,  January  2,  1752.  The  family  was  of 
French  Huguenot  defcent,  his  firft  anceftors  in  America 
having  taken  refuge  in  this  country,  with  many  other  moft 
eftimable  emigrants  to  our  fhores,  from  the  religious  and 
civil  perfecutions  confequent  upon  that  unhappy  policy,  fo 
injurious  to  the  true  wealth  of  France,  the  Revocation,  by 
Louis  XIV.,  of  the  EdicT:  of  Nantes.  Thefe  refugees 
came  in  confiderable  numbers,  a  peaceful,  intelligent,  in- 
duftrious  population,  and  their  fimple  virtues  are  to  this  day 
the  pride  of  their  defcendants.  The  Freneaus  were  of  this 
wholefome  flock  ;  they  were  good  citizens  of  New  York, 


Vlll  PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

and  their  names  are  cherifhed  in  the  records  of  the  St. 
Efprit  Church,  the  "Old  French  Church,"  the  quaint 
place  of  vvorfliip  in  Pine  Street,  itill  remembered  by  our 
citizens,  though  the  impulfe  of  trade  has,  fince  its  removal 
from  that  fpot,  a  fecond  time  driven  the  wandering  houfe  of 
worfhip  to  a  new  locality. 

Andrew  Freneau,  the  grandfather  of  Philip  Freneau, 
was  a  fhipping-merchant  in  the  City  of  New  York,  of  high 
repute  among  the  inhabitants.  Some  interefting  notices  of 
his  (landing  and  liberal  hofpitality  are  recorded  in  that  in 
terefting  volume,  the  "  Memoirs  of  the  Huguenot  Family 
of  the  Fontaines."  John  Fontaine,  a  traveller  from  France, 
vifited  New  York  in  1716,  on  purpofes  of  bufmefs  and  ob- 
fervation.  Immediately  upon  his  arrival  he  called  upon 
Andrew  Freneau,  at  his  home,  where  he  met  with  a  cordial 
reception,  and  was  much  with  him  during  his  ftay  in  the 
city,  at  the  Coffee  Houfe,  at  the  French  Club,  and  at 
Church.*  Andrew  Freneau  refided,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  Pearl  Street,  near  Hanover  Square.  He  left  two 
fons,  born  in  New  York,  Pierre  and  Andrew,  who  purfued 
the  bufmefs  of  wine-merchants  in  the  city,  and  were  engaged 
in  the  Bordeaux  and  Madeira  trade.  Pierre  was  the  father 

*  "Mrmoirs  of  a  Huguenot  Family,"  by  Ann  Maury,  196-310. 


PHILIP    FRENEAU  IX 

of  Philip,  the  poet  of  the  Revolution,  and  of  Peter  Freneau, 
who  became  hardly  lefs  diftinguifhed  in  South  Carolina. 
Andrew  Freneau,  the  uncle  of  Philip,  married  a  daughter 
of  Biihop  Provooft.  Pierre,  the  father  of  the  poet,  bought 
an  eftate  of  a  thoufand  acres  at  Mount  Pleafant,  New  Jer- 
iey,  a  family  inheritance  which  his  fon  afterwards  occupied, 
and  where  he  wrote  many  of  his  poems.  Both  the  father 
and  grandfather  of  Philip  Freneau  are  buried  in  a  vault  in 
Trinity  Churchyard,  New  York,  by  the  fide  of  their  family 
relations. 

Of  the  boyhood  of  Philip  Freneau  we  know  little,  but 
we  may  infer  from  the  pofition  of  his  family,  and  his  fubfe- 
quent  attainments,  that  he  was  well  inftrucled  at  the  fchools 
of  the  city,  for  we  find  him  in  1767  a  ftudent  at  the  Col 
lege  of  New  Jerfey,  at  Princeton,  where  he  graduated  with 
credit,  after  the  ufual  four  years'  courfe,  in  1771.  He 
began  early  the  practice  of  verification  ,  for,  in  his  fopho- 
more  year,  at  the  age  of  feventeen,  he  compofed  a  rhymed 
poem  of  decided  promife,  entitled  "The  Poetical  Hiftory  of 
the  Prophet  Jonah,"  which  appears  at  the  head  of  the  firft 
general  collection  of  his  "  Poems."  Other  compofitions,  in 
various  metres,  on  claffical  and  hiftorical  themes,  preferved 
in  the  fame  volume,  were  written  during  his  collegiate 
courfe.  It  was  a  creditable  year  for  the  institution  when  he 


PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

graduated  ;  for  in  his  clafs  were  James  Madifon,  the  future 
Prefident  ;  Hugh  Henry  Brackenridge,  the  celebrated  Judge, 
and  author  of  "  Modern  Chivalry  ;"  befides  others  of  note 
in  the  annals  of  America,  among  whom  we  may  men 
tion  the  father  of  the  venerable  Rev.  Dr.  Gardiner  Spring, 
Samuel  Spring,  who  became  a  chaplain  of  the  Revolutionary 
arm  .  :h  Arnold  at  the  attack  of  Quebec,  in  1775,  and 

in  that  difaltrous  affair  carried  in  his  arms  the  wounded  Aaron 
Burr  from  the  field.  The  commencement  exercifes  at  Naf- 
fcu  Hall  that  year,  1771,  were  of  unufual  intereft.  It  was 
in  the  Prefidcncy  of  that  eminent  patriot,  John  Witherfpoon, 
who,  though  born  in  Scotland,  was  proving  himfelf,  by  his 
enlightened  fagacity  and  devotion  to  freedom,  an  "Ameri 
can  of  the  Americans."  The  political  independence  of  the 
country,  though  not  yet  formally  proclaimed,  was  ripening, 
in  Maflachufetts  and  elfewhere,  to  its  great  declaration  and 
invincible  refolve.  The  young  patriots  of  Princeton,  on  a 
fpot  dcitincd  to  become  memorable  in  the  ftruggle,  were 
already  animated  by  the  kindling  promife  of  the  future. 
Brackcnridge  and  Freneau  had  already  developed  a  tafte  for 
poetry,  and  they  united,  for  their  commencement  exercife, 
in  the  compofition  of  a  dialogue,  A  Poem  on  the  Riftng  Glory 
of  America,  which  they  pronounced  together,  founding,  in 
animated  blank  vcrfe,  the  achievements  of  colonization  in 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XI 

the  paft  and  the  vifionary  grandeur  of  empire  hereafter. 
This  joint  poem  was  publifhed  in  Philadelphia  in  1772, 
with  the  well-known  motto  from  Seneca,  the  Roman  tragic 
writer,  afterwards  adopted  by  Irving  on  the  title-page  of  the 
cc  Life  of  Columbus."  The  portion  written  by  Freneau 
opens  the  prefent  collection — the  prelude  to  his  poems  of 
the  Revolution. 

The  next  information  we  have  of  Freneau  is  gathered 
from  the  dates  of  the  poems  which  he  contributed  to  the 
journals  publifhed  by  Hugh  Gaine  and  Anderfon,  in  New 
York,  in  1775.  They  exhibit  his  intereft  in  the  important 
military  affairs  of  the  year  at  Bofton,  and  will  be  found  re 
produced  in  the  prefent  volume.  In  a  poem  of  this  year, 
"  Mac  Sniggen,"  a  fatire  on  fome  hoftile  poetafter,  he  ex- 
prefles  a  defire  to  crofs  the  Atlantic  : — 

"  Long  have  I  fat  on  this  difaft'rous  more, 
And,  fighing,  fought  to  gain  a  paflage  o'er 
To  Europe's  towns,  where,  as  our  travellers  fay, 
Poets  may  flourifh,  or  perhaps  they  may;" — 

an  inclination  for  foreign  travel  which  was  gratified,  in 
1776,  by  a  voyage  to  the  Weft  Indies,  where  he  appears  to 
have  remained  fome  time,  in  a  mercantile  capacity,  vifiting 
Jamaica  and  the  Danim  ifland,  Santa  Cruz.  Several  of  his 


xll  I'HILIP    FRENEAU. 

moft  ftriking   poems,  as  the  "  Houfe  of   Night,"  and   the 
u  Beauties  of  Santa  Cruz,"  were  written  on  thcic  \  Hits. 

In  1779,  Freneau  was  engaged  as  a  leading  contributor 
the  United  States  Magazine  :  A  Repofitory  of  Hijhry, 
Politics,  and  Literature,  edited  by  his  college  friend  and  fel 
low-patriot,  Hugh  Henry  Brackcnridge,  and  publifiied  by 
Francis  BaiK-y,  in  Philadelphia.  It  was  iflued  monthly  from 
January  to  December,  when  its  difcontinuance  was  an 
nounced  u  until  an  eftablifhed  peace  and  a  fixed  value  of  the 
money  fhall  render  it  convenient  or  pofliblc  to  take  it  up 
again."  The  volume  forms  a  moft  interefting  memorial,  in 
its  literary  as  well  as  hiftorical  matter,  of  this  important  year 
of  the  war.  Freneau  wrote  much  for  it,  in  profe  and  verfe, 
and  with  equal  fpirit  in  both.*  Here  at  firft  appeared  the 
two  poems  written  in  the  Weft  Indies,  already  alluded  to, 
and  two  of  the  poems,  "King  George  III.'s  Soliloquy," 
and  the  fpiritcd  "  Dialogue  between  his  Britannic  Majefty 
and  Mr.  Fox,"  reprinted  in  this  volume.  In  comparing 

*  I:  is  ftatcd  in  Allibone's  Dictionary,  that  Freneau  edited  this  magazine. 
That  hi»  relation  to  the  work  was  that  of  a  contributor,  appears  from  a  note  to  a 
poetical  imitation  of  thr  ij-'th  Pfalm,  in  the  September  number.  The  poem  is 
figned  by  Frencau,  and  dated  at  Monmouth,  N.  J.  The  note  is  to  the  author's 
name: — "A  young  gentleman  to  whom,  in  the  courfe  of  this  work,  we  arc 
greatly  indebted," — an  acknowledgment  which  would  hardly  be  made  in  fuch 
trrmi  if  Frrneau  had  been  the  editor.  Bcfides,  it  is  diftinftly  ftated  in  the 
Biography  •'  'r«dge,  by  hi«  fon,  that  the  mag.'.zinc  was  edited  by  the 

author  of  "  Modern  Chivalry." 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  Xlll 

thefe  with  the  poems  as  they  appear  in  the  later  editions,  we 
find  numerous  important  additions  and  changes,  fhowing  the 
care  and  fkill  which  the  poet  beftowed  upon  his  produc 
tions.  The  "  Houfe  of  Night,"  in  the  Magazine,  is  com- 
prifed  in  feventy-three  ftanzas  ;  in  the  fubfequent  collection 
of  the  author's  poems  it  was  extended  to  one  hundred  and 
thirty-fix,  and  the  fifty-two  ftanzas  of  the  poem  on  "  Santa 
Cruz,"  to  one  hundred  and  nine  ;  and  various  alterations 
occur.  The  laft-mentioned  poem  in  the  Magazine  is  pre 
faced  by  an  interefting  profe  defcription  of  the  ifland.  In  it 
occurs  this  noticeable  teftimony  of  the  author  on  the  fubjecl: 
of  negro  flavery  : — 

"  The  only  difagreeable  circumftance  attending  this 
ifland,"  fays  he,  "  which  it  has  in  common  with  the  reft,  is 
the  cruel  and  deteftable  flavery  of  the  negroes.  c  If  you 
have  tears  to  fried,  prepare  to  fried  them  now/  A  defcrip 
tion  of  the  flavery  they  endure  would  be  too  irkfome  and 
unpleafant  to  me  ;  and,  to  thofe  who  have  not  beheld  it, 
would  be  incredible.  Sufficient  be  it  to  fay,  that  no  clafs 
of  mankind  in  the  known  world  undergo  fo  complete  a  fer- 
vitude  as  the  common  negroes  in  the  Weft  Indies.  It  cafts 
a  (hade  over  the  native  charms  of  the  country  ;  it  blots  out 
the  beauties  of  the  eternal  fpring  which  Providence  has  there 
ordained  to  reign  ;  and  amidft  all  the  profufion  of  bounties 


xiv  I'HII.U'    FRENEAU. 

which  nature  has  fcattcred — the  brightnefs  of  the  heaven, 
the  mildm-fs  of  the  air,  and  the  luxuriancy  of  the  vegetable- 
kingdom — it  leaves  me  melancholy  and  difconfolate,  con 
vinced  that  there  is  no  pleafure  in  this  world  without  its 
(hare  of  pain.  And  thus  the  earth,  which,  were  it  not  for 
the  luft  of  pride  and  dominion,  might  be  an  earthly  paradife, 
is,  by  the  ambition  and  overbearing  nature  of  mankind,  ren 
dered  an  eternal  fcene  of  defolation,  woe,  and  horror  ;  the 
weak  goes  to  the  wall,  while  the  ftrong  prevails  ;  and  after 
our  ambitious  frenzy  has  turned  the  world  upfide  down, 
we  are  contented  with  a  narrow  fpot,  and  leave  our  follies 
ind  cruelties  to  be  a&ed  over  again,  by  every  fucceeding 
generation.'* 

Freneau  has  alfo  recorded  his  deteftation  of  the  cruelties 
of  Weft  India  flavcry  in  verfe,  in  the  poem,  a  terrific  pic 
ture  of  flave  life,  addrefled  "  To  Sir  Toby,  a  Sugar-Planter 
in  the  interior  parts  of  Jamaica  :" — 

"  If  there  cxifts  a  HELL — the  cafe  is  clear — 
Sir  Toby's  flavcs  cnjdy  that  portion  here." 

In  another  poem,  "  On  the  Emigration  to  America,  and 
Peopling  the  Weftern  Country,"  publifhcd  in  his  volume 
of  1795,  Freneau  comes  nearer  home  in  the  declaration  of 
hi<,  opinions  on  this  fubjcft,  when  he  writes  :  — 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XV 

ct  O  come  the  time  and  hafte  the  aay, 

When  man  fliall  man  no  longer  crulh 
When  reafon  mail  enforce  her  fway, 

Nor  thefe  fair  regions  raife  our  blufh, 
Where  flill  the  African  complains, 
And  mourns  his  yet  unbroken  chains." 

In  after  life,  when  the  poet  himfelf,  under  the  mild  fyf- 
tem  of  Northern  fervitude,  became  the  owner  of  Haves  in 
New  Jerfey,  he  uniformly  treated  them  with  kindnefs,  manu 
mitted  them  in  advance  of  the  Emancipation  Acl:  in  the 
State,  and  fupported  on  the  farm  thofe  of  them  who  were 
not  able  to  take  care  of  themfelves.  One  of  thefe,  a  vet 
eran  mammy,  proud  of  having  opened  the  door  in  her  day 
to  General  Wafhington,  and  been  addrefTed  by  him  in  a 
word  or  two  on  that  important  occafion,  long  furvived  the 
poet. 

In  the  year  following  the  publication  of  the  Magazine, 
Freneau,  having  embarked  as  paflenger  in  a  merchant  veiTel 
from  Philadelphia,  on  another  voyage  to  the  Weft  Indies, 
was  captured  with  the  crew  by  a  Britim  cruifer  off  the 
Capes  of  the  Delaware,  and  carried  with  the  prize  to  New 
York.  There  he  was  confined  on  his  arrival  in  the  Scor 
pion^  one  of  the  hulks  lying  in  the  harbour  ufed  as  prifon- 
ihips.  The  cruel  treatment  which  he  experienced  on  board, 


XVI  PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

with  the  aggravated  horrors  of  foul  air  and  other  privations, 
fpeediiy  threw  him  into  a  fever,  when  he  was  transferred  to 
the  hofpital-fhip  Hunter,  which  proved  fimply  an  exch: 
of  one  fpecies  of  fuffering  for  another  more  aggravated. 
How  long  Freneau  was  confined  in  this  hideous  prifon  we 
are  not  informed,  nor  by  what  influences  he  gained  his  dif- 
charge.  He  carried  with  him,  however,  on  his  efcape,  a 
burning  memory  of  the  feverities  and  indignities  he  had  en 
dured,  which  he  gave  expreflion  to  in  one  of  the  moft  char- 
a&eriftic  of  his  poetical  productions,  "The  Britijh  Prifon- 
Ship,"  which  was  publiftied  by  Francis  Bailey,  in  Philadel 
phia,  in  1771.  This  poem,  originally  divided  into  four  can 
tos,  was  fubfcquently  recaft  by  the  author  in  the  form  in 
which  it  appears  in  the  prefent  volume,  with  the  title, 
"  Cantos  from  a  Prifon-Ship."  The  pi&urefque  incidents 
of  the  voyage,  which  is  defcribed  ;  the  animated  a&ion  of 
the  capture  ;  the  melancholy  circumftances  of  the  prifon- 
fhip  contrafted  with  the  happy  fcenery  of  the  fhore  ;  the 
ftern  terrors  of  the  hofpital,  with  the  fatirical  humour  ex 
pended  upon  the  defcription  of  the  Heflian  Do&or,  are  all 
in  Freneau's  beft  manner. 

Freneau  now  became  a  frequent  contributor  of  patriotic 
odes  and  occafional  poems,  celebrating  the  incidents  of 
the  war,  to  The  Freeman's  'Journal  of  Philadelphia.  Here 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XV11 

many  of  the  poems  in  the  prefent  volume,  including  the 
humorous  verfes  on  Rivington  and  his  cc  Royal  Gazette," 
were  firft  publimed.  Literature,  however,  was  not  then 
a  profitable  occupation  ;  and  Government,  which  had  ex- 
haufted  its  refources  in  keeping  an  army  in  the  field,  had 
fcant  opportunity  of  rewarding  its  champions.  The  poet, 
looking  to  other  means  of  fubfiftence,  returned  to  his  fea- 
faring  and  mercantile  habits,  and  became  known  by  his 
voyages  to  the  Weft  Indies  as  Captain  Freneau.  He  ftill, 
however,  kept  up  the  ufe  of  the  pen.  In  1783,  befides  his 
poetical  contributions  to  the  newfpapers,  including  feveral 
New  Years'  Addrefles,  written  for  the  carriers  of  the  Phil 
adelphia  journals,  a  fpecies  of  rhyming  for  which  he  had 
great  facility,  we  find  him  publifhing  in  that  city  a  tranfla- 
tion  of  the  travels  of  M.  Abbe  Robin,  the  chaplain  of  Count 
Rochambeau,  giving  an  account  of  the  progrefs  of  the 
French  army  from  Newport  to  Yorktown.  In  1784,  Fre 
neau  is  at  the  Ifland  of  Jamaica,  writing  a  poetical  defcrip- 
tion  of  Port  Royal. 

The  firft  collection  of  his  poetical  writings  which  he 
made,  entitled  "  The  Poems  of  Philip  Freneau,  written  chiefly 
during  the  late  War"  was  publimed  by  Francis  Bailey,  "  at 
Yorick's  Head  in  Market  ftreet,"  Philadelphia,  in  1786. 
It  is  prefaced  by  a  brief  "  Advertifement,"  figned  by  the 


XVIll  PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

publifher,  in  which  he  dates  that  the  pieces  now  collected 
had  been  left  in  his  hands  by  the  author  more  than  a  year 
previoufly,  with  permiflion  to  publilh  them  whenever  he 
thought  proper.  "A  confiderable  number  of  the  perform 
ances,"  he  adds,  "as  many  will  recoiled,  have  appeared  at 
different  times  in  newfpapers  (particularly  The  Freeman's 
Journal),  and  other  periodical  publications  in  the  different 
States  of  America,  during  the  late  war,  and  fince  ;  and, 
from  the  avidity  and  pleafure  with  which  they  generally 
appear  to  have  been  read  by  perfons  of  the  bed  tafte,  the 
Printer  now  the  more  readily  gives  them  to  the  world  in 
their  prefent  form  (without  troubling  the  reader  with  any 
affe&cd  apologies  for  their  fuppofed  or  real  imperfections), 
in  hopes  they  will  afford  a  high  degree  of  fatisfa&ion  to  the 
lovers  of  poetical  wit  and  elegance  of  expreflion." 

The  fuccefs  of  this  volume  led  to  the  publication,  by 
Mr.  Bailey,  of  another  collection  of  Freneau's  writings  in 
1788.  It  is  entitled,  "  The  Mifcellaneous  Works  of  Mr. 
Philip  Freneau,  containing  his  EJJays  and  Additional  Poems  " 
A  number  of  the  poems  were  printed  from  manufcript. 
u  Some  few  of  the  pieces,"  the  publifher  announced,  "  have 
heretofore  appeared  in  American  newfpapers  ;  but,  through 
a  fatality  not  unufually  attending  publications  of  that  kind, 
are  now,  perhaps,  forgotten  ;  and,  at  any  time,  may  pofli- 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XIX 

bly  never  have  beep  feen,  or  attended  to,  but  by  very  few." 
The  -volume,  as  not  uncommon  even  with  works  of  very 
limited  extent,  in  that  early  period  of  the  nation,  was  pub- 
limed  by  fubfcription.  The  Honorable  David  Rittenhoufe, 
Mathew  Carey,  and  John  Parke,  A.  M.,  of  Horatian  ce 
lebrity,  were  among  the  fubfcribers  in  Philadelphia  ;  New 
York  furnimed,  among  others  of  note,  De  Witt  Clinton, 
Edward  Livingfton,  Colonel  Marinus  Willet,  and  John 
Pintard,  who  took  two  copies  ;  Maryland  fent  fome  thirty  ; 
but  the  largeft  number  was  contributed  by  South  Carolina, 
that  State  fupplying  two  hundred  and  fifty,  or  more  than  half 
the  entire  lift.  Captain  Freneau  was  well  known  and  highly 
appreciated  at  Charlefton,  which  he  frequently  vifited  in  the 
courfe  of  his  mercantile  adventures  to  the  Weft  Indies,  and 
where  his  younger  brother  Peter,  who  fubfequently  edited  a 
political  journal  in  that  city,  and  was  in  intimate  correfpon- 
dence  with  Prefident  Jefferfon,  was  already  eftablifhed  as 
an  influential  citizen. 

The  "Effays"  and  "Tales,"  in  this  collection,  difplay 
the  author's  tafte  and  ingenuity.  They  cover  a  wide  range 
of  fubje<5h,  moral,  humorous,  and  fatirical ;  and,  like  the 
kindred  productions  of  Franklin  and  Francis  Hopkinfon, 
thefe  (ketches  of  manners  and  fociety  are  remarkably  neat 
in  execution.  The  formal  parts  of  literature  were,  in  the 


XX  PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

days  of  our  author,  more  attended  to  thaji  at  prefent,  at  lead 
in  thefe  occafional  compofitions.  The  writer  who  appeared 
in  print  before  the  public,  in  that  age  of  ceremonial  coflume, 
felt  it  incumbent  upon  himfelf  to  pay  fome  regard  to  the 
drefs  in  which  he  clothed  his  thoughts.  Freneau  had,  be- 
fide,  a  true  author's  inftincl  in  regard  to  the  fmall  proprieties 
of  exprefiion.  He  would  polifti  and  refine  at  every  oppor 
tunity,  as  the  ftudied  improvement  of  particular  paflages  in 
the  fucceflive  editions  of  his  writings  bears  witnefs.  The 
u  Tra&s  and  Eflays,"  by  Mr.  Robert  Slender,  the  name 
under  which  Freneau  frequently  wrote,  are,  in  fad,  quite 
pleafant  reading  at  this  day  ;  they  are  enlivened  with  various 
happy  inventions,  and  reflect,  in  a  genial  vein  of  humour,  the 
habits  and  opinions  of  our  forefathers  at  a  period  which  will 
always  be  peculiarly  interefting  to  the  genuine  American. 

After  feveral  years  fpent  in  voyaging,  we  find  Freneau 
again  in  active  literary  employment  in  1791,  as  editor  of  the 
Daily  Advcrttftr,  a  journal  printed  in  New  York,  the  fuper- 
intendence  of  which  he  prefently  exchanged  for  that  of  the 
National  Gazette  at  Philadelphia,  the  firft  number  of  which 
appeared  under  his  direction  in  October  of  the  year  juft 
mentioned.  He  was  employed  at  the  fame  time  by  Jeffer- 
fon,  the  Secretary  of  State, — the  feat  of  government  being 
now  removed  to  Philadelphia, — as  tranflating  clerk  in  the 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XXI 

State  Department,  with  a  falary  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  a  year.  It  was  a  time  of  fierce  political  excitement, 
when  the  newlv  framed  Conftitution,  not  yet  fully  eftab- 
iifhed  in  its  working,  was  expofed  to  the  fierce  criticifm  of 
its  adverfaries  ;  while  popular  opinion  was  greatly  excited  by 
the  rifing  tumult  of  ideas  generated  in  the  French  Revolu 
tion.  In  this  ftrife  of  parties  Freneau  was  an  active  partifan 
of  the  new  French  ideas,  was  a  fupporter  of  Genet,  the 
minifter  who  fought  to  entangle  the  country  in  the  great 
European  ftruggle,  and,  as  might  be  expected,  was  an  un- 
iparing  aflailant  of  the  policy  of  Wafhington,  whofe  charac 
ter  he  had  heretofore  eulogized.  Wafhington  was  annoyed, 
and  Hamilton  attacked  Jefferfon  for  his  official  fupport  of 
the  troublefome  editor.  JefFerfon  replied  that  he  had  be 
friended  Freneau,  as  a  man  of  genius  ;  but  that  he  had 
never  written  for  his  paper.  It  is  unqueflionably  true,  how 
ever,  that  Freneau's  political  writings,  at  this  time,  had  Jef- 
ferfon's  warmed  fympathy. 

The  Gazette  came  to  an  end  with  its  fecond  volume 
and  fecond  year,  in  1793,  after  which  Freneau  became,  as 
fie  nad  been  before,  a  refident  of  New  Jerfey.  He  had  ftill, 
however,  an  inclination  to  editorial  life,  and  we  accordingly 
find  him,  in  the  fpring  of  1795,  publifhing  at  Mount  Plea- 
fant,  near  Middletown  Point,  a  new  journal,  entitled  The 


XXII  PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

Jerfey  Chronicle.  A  copy  of  this  journal  is  prefcrvcd  in  the 
library  of  the  New  York  Hiftorical  Society.  The  firtt 
number  was  dated  May  2  ;  it  was  iflued  weekly  and  con 
tinued  for  a  year,  when  it  was  arrefted  by  that  frequent 
malady  of  fuch  undertakings,  want  of  fupport.  This  Chron 
icle  is  quite  a  curious  affair.  It  was  printed  by  the  author 
himfelf,  who  had  muttered  a  medley  of  types  for  the  purpofe. 
The  firft  number  was  of  the  humble  dimenfions  of  eight 
fmall  quarto  pages,  of  feven  inches  by  eight.  But  it  bore  a 
brave  motto,  from  the  editor's  favourite  Horace  : — 

"  Inter  fylvas  Acadcmi  quacrcre  vcrum," 

and  loftily  propofed  to  review  the  foreign  and  domeftic  poli 
tics  of  the  times,  and  "  mark  the  general  character  of  the 
age  and  country.'*  The  fpirited  little  journal  was  prefently 
fomewhat  enlarged,  but  typographically,  at  leaft,  it  always 
appeared  of  a  fomewhat  fickly  conftitution. 

The  office  types,  however,  were  well  employed  in  print 
ing,  this  year,  1795,  a  new  and  comprehcnfive  edition  of 
the  author's  poems,  in  an  oclavo  volume  of  four  hundred 
and  fifty-fix  pages,  of  the  title-page  of  which  we  prefent  3 
clofe  imitation  : — 


POEMS 

WRITTEN  BETWEEN  THE  YEARS   1768   &   1794, 
B  Y 

PHILIP      FRENEAU, 

O    F 

NEW        JERSEY. 

A  NEW  EDITION,  REVISED  and  CORRECTED  by  t'ue 

AUTHOR;   Including  a  confiderable  number  of 

PIECES  never  before  PUBLISHED. 

* 

*       * 
#       *       * 

#'•«.,.>>-* 

#         *         •&         -Jf         -5C- 

Audax    inde  cohors  Jlcllis    e  pluribus  unum 
Ardua  fyramidos  tolllt  ad  ajlra  caput. 


M    0    N   MOUTH 
[  N.  J.  ] 

PRINTED 

At  the  Prefs  of  the  AUTHOR,  at  MOUNT-PLEASANT,  near 

MIDDLETOWN-POINT  :  M.DCC.XCV:  and,  of 

—  AMERICAN  INDEPENDENCE  — 

XIX. 


PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

The  explanation  of  the  ftars  in  the  title  will  be  found  in 
the  concluding  poem  of  the  prefent  volume,  entitled  "  The 
Pyramid  of  the  Fifteen  American  States."  In  this  collec 
tion  Freneau  revived  his  poem  on  the  Prifon-Ship,  and  re 
printed  at  length  his  humorous  animadverfions  on  Rivington 
and  Gaine ;  all  of  which,  with  the  other  Revolutionary 
poems,  have  been  transferred  to  the  prefent  volume. 

One  more  newfpaper  venture  concludes  the  lift  of  1  n- 
neau's  undertakings  of  this  defcription.  In  1797  he  edited, 
at  New  York,  a  mifcellaneous  periodical,  entitled  The  Time- 
Puce  and  Literary  Companion.  It  was  printed  in  quarto 
form,  aprpeared  three  times  a  week  ;  and,  befides  his  edi- 
torfhip,  Freneau  was  aflbciated  with  a  partner  in  its  printing 
and  publication.  As  ufual,  his  part  was  well  done,  the 
journal  being  well  arranged,  judicioufly  filled  with  a  variety 
of  matter,  fpirited  and  entertaining  ;  in  fa&,  what  its  title 
promifed,  an  agreeable  companion  to  an  intelligent  reader. 
This,  at  leaftj  was  its  character  while  in  charge  of  Freneau. 
He  appears  to  have  left  it  during  the  year,  after  which  it 
languifhed  and  died. 

In  1799,  Freneau  publifhcd  at  Philadelphia,  "printed 
for  the  author,"  a  thin  octavo  volume,  entitled,  u  ?.ct- 
ters  on  Various  IntereJJing  and  Important  Suljetls ;  many  of 
which  have  appeared  in  the  Aurora.  Corrected  and  ?nuch  en- 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XXV 

larged.       By   Robert    Slender^    O.  S.  M."    with    the    motto 
from  Pope  : — 

"  Worth  makes  the  man,  and  want  of  it  the  fellow ; 
The  reft  is  all  but  leather  or  prunella." 

Freneau,  of  whofe  occupations  we  have  now  no  particu 
lar  account,  appears  to  have  refided  in  New  Jerfey,  doubt- 
iefs  often  vifiting  New  York,  and  certainly  keeping  alive  his 
poetical  faculty,  by  his  habit  of  penning  occafional  verfes  on 
topics  fuggefted  by  the  day.  In  1809  he  published  a  new 
collection,  the  fourth,  of  his  writings,  which  he  entitled, 
"  Poems  Written  and  Publijhed  during  the  American  Revolu 
tionary  War,  and  now  Republijhed  from  the  Original  Manu- 
fcripts  ;  interfperfed  with  Tranjlations  from  the  Ancients,  and 
other  pieces  not  heretofore  in  print"  The  title-page  alfo  bore 
the  motto — 

" Juftly  to  record  the  deeds  of  fame, 


A  mufe  from  heaven  mould  touch  the  foul  with  flame ; 
Some  powerful  fpirit,  in  fuperior  lays, 
Should  tell  the  conflicts  of  the  ftorrny  days." 

The  tranilations  "from  the  ancients,"  are  the  third  Elegy 
of  the  firft  book  of  Ovid's  "  Triftia,"  and  the  pafTage  of 
Lucretius,  in  the  fixth  book  of  his  poem,  in  which  he  dc- 
fcribes  the  great  plague  at  Athens.  The  fele&ion  (hows 


\\.l  PHI  1. 1.      .         MIAU. 

that  Frcncau  had  not  altogether  loft  the  early  inftru&ion  in 
the  claflics  which  he  had  received  at  Naflau  Hall.  The 
collection  in  which  thefe  poems  appeared  was  publifhcil  in 
two  duodecimo  volumes,  at  Philadelphia,  "  from  the  prefs 
ofLydia  R.  Bailey." 

Freneau  lived  to  commemorate  the  incidents  of  the  fec- 
ond  war  with  Great  Britain,  in  1812.  He  wrote  various 
poems  celebrating  the  naval  actions  of  Hull,  Macdonough, 
Porter,  and  others,  which  ftirred  the  foul  of  the  old  Revolu 
tionary  warrior.  His  traditionary  hatred  of  England  fur- 
vives  in  thcfe  and  other  compofitions  which  he  publifhed  in 
New  York,  in  1815,  in  two  fmall  volumes,  from  the  prefs 
of  David  Longworth,  entitled,  "  A  Colleftion  of  Poems  on 
American  Affairs  and  a  Variety  of  other  Subjeftt,  written  be 
tween  the  years  1797  and  the  prefent  time" 

"  Then  England  come  ! — a  fenfe  of  wrong  requires 
To  meet  with  thirteen  liars  your  thoufand  fires  : 
Through  thcfe  ftcrn  times  the  conflict  to  maintain, 
Or  drown  them,  with  your  commerce,  in  the  main." 

Thefe  volumes  received  a  genial  notice  in  the  Anaiettic 
Magazine,  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Gulian  C.  Verplanck. 
Deprecating  the  fcverity  of  criticifm  towards  poems  of  an 
occafional  character,  the  writer  remarks  :  u  He  depicls  land 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XXVII 

battles  and  naval  fights  with  much  animation  and  gay  col 
ouring  ;  and  being  himfelf  a  fon  of  old  Neptune,  he  is  never 
at  a  lofs  for  appropriate  circumftance  and  expreffive  diction, 
when  the  fcene  lies  at  sea.  *  *  *  His  martial  and  po 
litical  ballads  are  free  from  bombaft  and  affectation,  and 
often  have  an  arch  fimplicity  in  their  manner  that  renders 
them  very  poignant  and  ftriking.  If  the  ballads  and  fongs 
of  Dibdin  have  cheered  the  fpirits  and  incited  the  valour  of 
the  Britifli  tars,  the  {trains  of  Freneau,  in  like  manner,  are 
calculated  to  impart  patriotic  impulfes  to  the  hearts  of  his 
countrymen,  and  their  effecT:  in  this  way  fhould  be  taken  as 
the  teft  of  their  merit,  without  entering  into  a  very  nice  ex 
amination  of  the  rhyme  or  the  reafon.  For  our  own  part, 
we  have  no  inclination  to  dwell  on  his  defects ;  we  had 
much  rather — 

'  With  full  applaufe,  in  honour  to  his  age, 
Difmifs  the  veteran  poet  from  the  ftage ; 
Crown  his  laft  exit  with  diilinguifhed  praife, 
And  kindly  hide  his  baldnefs  with  the  bays.'"* 

After  witneffing  and  chronicling  in  his  verfe  the  conflicts 
of  two  wars,  Freneau  had  yet  many  years  of  life  before  him. 
They  were  moftly  pafled  in  rural  retirement,  at  the  home 

*  "Analedlic  Magazine,"  v.  518. 


XXviii  PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

where  he  had  been  long  fettled,  near  Monmouth,  New  Jer- 
ley.  He  occafionally  vifited  New  York,  keeping  up  his 
acquaintance  with  the  Democratic  leaders,  with  whom  ho 
had  been  aflbciated  in  the  political  ftruggles  of  the  paft,  and 
honoured  by  the  friends  of  literature  in  the  city,  who  never 
failed  to  appreciate  the  merits  of  the  veteran  finger  of  the 
Revolution.  His  appearance  and  converfation  at  this  time 
have  been  graphically  defcribed  by  the  late  Dr.  John  W. 
Francis,  in  whom  the  genius  and  hiftory  of  Frencau  ex 
cited  the  warmeft  intereft.  "  I  had,"  fays  he,  "  when  very 
young,  read  the  poetry  of  Freneau,  and  as  we  inftin&ively 
become  attached  to  the  writers  who  firft  captivate  our 
imaginations,  it  was  with  much  zeft  that  I  formed  a  per- 
fonal  acquaintance  with  the  Revolutionary  bard.  He  was 
at  that  time  about  feventy-fix  years  old,  when  he  firft  intro 
duced  himfelf  to  me  in  my  library.  I  gave  him  an  earneft 
welcome.  He  was  fomewhat  below  the  ordinary  height  ; 
in  pcrfon  thin,  yet  mufcular  ;  with  a  firm  ftep,  though  a  little 
inclined  to  (loop ;  his  countenance  wore  traces  of  care,  yet 
lightened  with  intelligence  as  he  fpoke  ;  he  was  mild  in 
enunciation,  neither  rapid  nor  flow,  but  clear,  diftindl,  and 
emphatic.  His  forehead  was  rather  beyond  the  medium 
elevation  ;  his  eyes  a  dark  gray,  occupying  a  focket  deeper 
than  common  ;  his  hair  muft  have  once  been  beautiful ;  it 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XXIX 

was  now  thinned  and  of  an  iron  gray.  He  was  free  of  all 
ambitious  difplays  ;  his  habitual  expreflion  was  penfive. 
His  drefs  might  have  parted  for  that  of  a  farmer.  New 
York,  the  city  of  his  birth,  was  his  moft  interefting  theme  ; 
his  collegiate  career  with  Madifon,  next.  His  ftory  of 
many  of  his  occafional  poems  was  quite  romantic.  As  he 
had  at  command  types  and  a  printing-prefs,  when  an  inci 
dent  of  moment  in  the  Revolution  occurred,  he  would  retire 
for  compofition,  or  find  fhelter  under  the  {hade  of  fome  tree, 
indite  his  lyrics,  repair  to  the  prefs,  fet  up  his  types,  and 
iflue  his  productions.  There  was  no  difficulty  in  verfifica- 
tion  with  him.  I  told  him  what  I  had  heard  Jeffrey,  the 
Scotch  Reviewer,  fay  of  his  writings,  that  the  time  would 
arrive  when  his  poetry,  like  that  of  Hudibras,  would  com 
mand  a  commentator  like  Grey. 

"  It  is  remarkable  how  tenacioufly  Freneau  preferved 
the  acquifitions  of  his  early  claffical  ftudies,  notwithstanding 
he  had  for  many  years,  in  the  after  portion  of  his  life,  been 
occupied  in  purfuits  fo  entirely  alien  to  books.  There  is  no 
portrait  of  the  patriot  Freneau  ;  he  always  firmly  declined 
the  painter's  art,  and  would  brook  no  c  counterfeit  prefent- 
ment.'"* 

*  A   flcetch    contributed   by   Dr.  Francis  to  the   "  Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Literature,"  i.  333,  334. 


PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

John  Pintard,  in  a  biographical  notice  of  Freneau,  alfo 
celebrates  his  mental  accomplifhments :  "  He  was,"  fays 
he,  "  a  man  of  great  reading  and  extenfive  acquirements ; 
few  were  more  thoroughly  verfed  in  claflical  literature, 
and  fewer  ftill,  who  knew  as  much  about  the  early  hif- 
tory  of  our  country,  the  organization  of  the  government, 
and  the  rife  and  progrefs  of  parties."* 

The  averfion  of  the  poet  to  fitting  for  his  portrait,  no 
ticed  by  Dr.  Francis,  was  one  of  his  peculiarities,  for  which 
it  is  not  eafy  to  fuggeft  a  fufficient  explanation.  As  an  au 
thor  he  was  careful  of  the  prefervation  of  his  fame.  Cer 
tainly  the  caufe  was  not  to  be  found  in  any  unfavourable 
impreflion  his  likenefs  might  create,  for  he  was,  as  accurately 
defcribed  by  Dr.  Francis,  of  an  interefting  appearance  in  age. 
In  youth  he  was  regarded  as  handfome.  His  brother  Peter 
was  renowned,  in  South  Carolina,  for  his  perfonal  beauty. 
But,  whatever  the  motive,  Freneau  refolutely  declined  to 
have  his  portrait  painted.  He  was  once  waited  upon  by  the 
artift,  Rembrandt  Peale,  with  a  requeft  for  this  purpofe,  by 
a  body  of  gentlemen  in  Philadelphia  ;  but  he  was  inexorable 
on  the  fubjed.  On  another  occafion,  the  elder  Jarvis, 
with  a  view  of  fecuring  his  likenefs,  was  fmuggled  into  a 

*  New  York  Mirror,  Jan.  12,  1833. 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XXXI 

corner  of  the  room  at  a  dinner-party,  at  Dr.  Hofack's,  to 
which  the  poet  had  been  invited  ;  but  the  latter  detected 
the  defign  and  arrefted  its  accomplifhment.  At  this  late 
day,  the  negleft  has  been,  in  a  meafure,  repaired.  The 
portrait  prefixed  to  this  volume  has  been  fketched  by  an 
artift,  at  the  fuggeftion  and  dictates  of  feveral  members  of 
the  poet's  family,  who  retain  the  moil  vivid  recollection  of 
his  perfonal  appearance.  It  is  pronounced  by  them,  a  fair 
reprefentation  of  the  man  in  the  maturity  of  his  phyfical 
powers,  previous  to  the  inroads  of  old  age.  His  daughter, 
Mrs.  Leadbeater,  and  his  grandfon  and  adopted  fon,  Mr. 
Philip  L.  Freneau,  of  this  city,  to  whom  we  are  indebted, 
in  this  Memoir,  for  feveral  interefting  perfonal  particulars, 
pronounce  it  a  fatisfa&ory  likeness.  Though  wanting  the 
authenticity  which  might  have  been  conferred  by  a  Trum- 
bull  or  Stuart,  the  fketch  is  of  undoubted  intereft  as  an 
embodiment  of  the  recollections  and  impreffions  of  his 
family,  who  are  not  likely  to  be  deceived  in  a  matter  fo 
clofely  touching  the  affeftions.  It  is,  at  any  rate,  all  that 
now  can  be  refcued  from  the  paft.  The  attempt,  under  the 
circumftances,  was  well  worthy  of  being  made,  and  muft 
be  regarded,  with  the  evidence  before  us,  as  reafonably  fuc- 
cefsful. 

Frcncau  furvived  nearly  to  the  completion  of  his  eightieth 


IP    FRENEAU. 

year.     He  died  December  18,  1832.*     The  Monmouth  (N. 

iquircr  thus  announced  his  death  :— 

11  Mr.  Freneau  was  in  the  village,  and  ftarted,  towards 

ling,  to  go  home,  about  two  miles.      In  attempting  to 

go  acrofs  he  appears  to  have  got  loft  and  mired  in  a  bog 

meadow,   where   his   litVlcfs   corpfe   was   difcovered    yefter- 

day  morning.     Captain   Freneau  was  a  ftanch  Whig  in  the 

time  of  the  Revolution,  a  good  foldier,  and  a  warm  patriot. 

The   productions  of  his  pen   animated   his   countrymen  in 

the    darkeft    days    of   '76,   and   the   effufions    of  his   mufe 

*  Philip  Frcnrau  left  a  family  of  four  daughters,  all  of  whom,  at  this  prefent 
time  (1865:,  are  li\ing.  The  mother  of  Governor  Seymour,  of  New  York 
(Mary,  the  daughter  of  General  Jonathan  Forman),  was  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Philip 
Ficncau,  the  wife  of  the  poet.  The  Freneaus,  through  the  fecond  marriage  of 
the  poet's  mother,  are  connected  with  the  Kearney  family,  of  New  Jerfey.  Philip 
Freneau  married  early  in  life,  at  about  the  age  of  thirty,  Mifs  Eleanor  Forman, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Forman,  a  wealthy  citizen  of  New  Jerfey.  General  Jona 
than  Forman  and  Denife  Forman,  who  were  much  engaged  in  military  affairs  in 
the  State  during  the  Revolution,  were  her  brothers.  David  Forman,  alfo  in 
military  life,  was  her  coufin.  This  lady,  who  fhared  her  hufband's  talent  for 
poetry,  correfponding  with  him,  for  feveral  years  before  their  marriage,  in  verfe, 
was  of  marked  character  and  intelligence.  She  was  devotedly  attached  to  the 
Epifcopal  Church,  whL'h  the  family  attended,  having  left  the  French  Church  in 
the  lifetime  of  the  poet's  father.  Mrs.  Frcncau  furvived  her  hufband  many 
years,  retaining,  in  her  latter  days,  much  of  the  perfonal  activity  of  her  youth, 
and  a  fund  in  convcrfation  of  the  moft  intercfting  memories  of  the  days  of  the 
Revolution.  The  remains  of  Mrs.  Freneau  repofe,  with  thofc  of  her  hufband,  in 
the  family  burial-ground  at  Mjunt  Pleafant,  New  Jcrfey.  A  monument  to  the 
poet's  memory,  within  .1  few  years,  has  been  creeled  on  the  fpot. 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XXX111 

cheered  the  defponding  foldier  as  he  fought  the  battles  of 
freedom." 

The  eulogy  of  the  Monmouth  journal  will  remain  Fre- 
neau's  higheft  diftincl:ion.  He  was  the  popular  poet  of  the 
Revolution.  We  have  made  this  fervice  the  ground  of 
fele&ion  of  the  poems  which  compofe  the  prefent  volume. 
For  the  firft  time,  all  that  he  himfelf  thought  worthy  of  re- 
publication  of  this  nature,  is  here  brought  together  in  a  fin- 
gle  volume.  The  poems  have  been  carefully  gathered  from 
the  feveral  editions,  and  the  author's  lateft  revifed  text  has 
in  all  cafes  been  followed.  Where  changes  of  any  intereft 
were  made  by  him,  the  variations  have  been  pointed  out  in  a 
note. 

It  is  not  to  be  forgotten,  however,  that  Freneau  had 
other  claims  to  attention  as  a  poat,  than  his  literary  affocia- 
tion  with  the  events  of  the  Revolution.  He  was  eflentially 
of  a  poetic  mood,  and  had  many  traits  of  rare  excellence  in 
the  divine  art.  His  fympathies  were  with  nature  and  his 
fellow-men.  His  mind  was  warmed  into  admiration  at  the 
beauties  of  landfcape  ;  his  conceptions  were  imaginative  ; 
vifionary  fcenes  fwarmed  before  his  imagination ;  and  the 
fame  fufceptibility  of  mind  which  led  him  to  inveft  with  in 
tereft  the  fading  fortunes  of  the  Indian,  and  Nature's  prod 
igality  in  the  luxurious  fcenery  of  the  tropics,  made  him 


PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

keenly  appreciative  of  the  humble  ways  and  manners  of  his 
race.  The  practical  Captain  Freneau  combined  humour 
with  him ••. -,  and  his  Mufc,  laying  afidc  what  Milton  termed 
44  her  fmging  robes,"  could  wear  with  eafe  the  garments  of 
o  en-day  life.  The  common,  once  familiar  incidents  and 
manners  of  his  time,  will  be  found  pleafantly  reflected  in 
many  a  quaint  picture  in  his  poems. 

44  The  poems  of  Philip  Freneau,"  if  we  may  be  allowed 
here  to  repeat  our  eftimate  of  his  powers,  from  a  (ketch  writ 
ten  fome  years  ago,  u  reprefent  his  times,  the  war  of  wit  and 
verfe  no  lefs  than  of  fword  and  ftratagem  of  the  Revolution  ; 
and  he  fuperadds  to  this  material  a  humorous,  homely  fim- 
plicity  peculiarly  his  own,  in  which  he  paints  the  life  of  vil 
lage  ruftics,  with  their  local  manners  frefh  about  them  ;  of 
days  when  tavern  delights  were  to  be'  freely  fpoken  of,  be 
fore  temperance  focieties  and  Maine  laws  were  thought  ol  , 
when  men  went  to  prifon  at  the  fummons  of  inexorable 
creditors,  and  when  Connecticut  deacons  ru(hed  out  of 
meeting  to  arreft  and  waylay  the  pafling  Sunday  traveller. 
When  thefc  humours  of  the  day  were  exhaufted,  and  the  im- 
pulfes  of  patriotifm  were  gratified  in  fong  ;  when  he  had  paid 
his  refpects  to  Rivington  and  Hugh  Gaine,  he  folaced  him- 
felf  with  remoter  themes :  in  the  verfion  of  an  ode  of  Hor 
ace,  a  \  ifionary  meditation  on  the  antiquities  of  America,  or 


PHILIP    FRliNKAU.  XXXV 

a  fentimental  effufion  on  the  loves  of  Sappho.  Thefe  fliow 
the  fine  tact  and  delicate  handling  of  Freneau,  who  deferves 
much  more  confideration  in  this  refpecl:  from  critics  thr.n  he 
has  received.  A  writer  from  whom  the  faftidious  Camp 
bell,  in  his  beft  day,  thought  it  worth  while  to  borrow  an 
entire  line,  is  worth  looking  into.  It  is  from  Freneau's 
Indian  Burying-Ground,  the  laft  image  of  that  fine  vifionary 
ftanza^: — 

'  By  midnight  moons,  o'er  moiftening  dews, 

In  veftments  for  the  chafe  array'd, 
The  hunter  ftill  the  deer  purfues, 

The  hunter  and  the  deer — a  made.' 

Campbell  has  given  the  line  a  rich  fetting  in  the  c  lovelorn 
fantafy'  of  0' Conor's  Child:— 

( Bright  as  the  bow  that  fpans  the  ftorm, 

In  Erin's  yellow  vefture  clad, 
A  fon  of  light — a,  lovely  form, 

He  comes  and  makes  her  glad ; 
Now  on  the  grafs-green  turf  he  fits, 

His  tafiell'd  horn  befide  him  laid ; 
Now  o'er  the  hills  in  chafe  he  flits, 

The  hunter  and  the,  deer  ajhade.* 

"  There  is  alfo  a  line  of  Sir  Walter  Scott  which  has  its 


XXXvi  PHILIP    FRENEAU. 

prototype  in  Frencau.  In  the  introduction  to  the  third 
i  .into  of  Marmion,  in  the  apoftrophe  to  the  Duke  of  Brunf- 
wick,  we  read— 

'Lamented  chief! — not  thine  the  power 
To  fave  in  that  prefumptuous  hour, 
When  Pruflia  hurried  to  the  field, 
And  fnatch'd  the  fpcar  but  left  the  fhield.' 

"  In  Frcncau's  poem  on  the  heroes  of  Eutaw,  we  have 
this  itanza  : — 

'They  faw  their  injur'd  country's  woe; 
The  flaming  town,  the  wafted  field ; 
Then  rufh'd  to  meet  the  infulting  foe ; 
They  took  the  fpcar — but  left  the  fhield.' 

"  An  anecdote  which  the  late  Henry  Brevoort  was  ac- 
cuftomed  to  relate  of  his  vifit  to  Scott,  affords  aflurance  that 
the  poet  was  really  indebted  to  Freneau,  and  that  he  would 
not,  on  a  proper  occafion,  have  hefitated  to  acknowledge 
the  obligation.  Mr.  Brevoort  was  afked  by  Scott  refpe&ing 
the  authorfhip  of  certain  verfes  on  the  battle  of  Eutaw, 
which  he  had  feen  in  a  magazine,  and  had  by  heart,  and 
which  he  knew  were  American.  He  was  told  that  they 
were  by  Freneau,  when  he  remarked,  '  The  poem  is  as  fine 
a  thing  as  there  is  of  the  kind  in  the  language.'  Scott  alfo 
praifed  one  of  the  Indian  poems. 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  XXXV11 

"We  might  add  to  thcfe  inftances,  that  in  1790,  Fre- 
neau,  in  his  poetical  correfpondence  between  Nanny,  the 
Philadelphia  Houfe-keeper,  and  Nabby,  her  friend  in  New 
York,  upon  the  fubjecT:  of  the  removal  of  Congrefs  to  the 
former  city,  hit  upon  fome  of  the  peculiar  pleafantry  of 
Moore's  Epiftles  in  verfe,  of  the  prefent  century. 

"  Freneau  furprifes  us  often  by  his  neatnefs  of  execution 
and  fkill  in  verification.  He  handles  a  triple-rhymed  ftanza 
in  the  octofyllabic  meafure  particularly  well.  His  apprecia 
tion  of  nature  is  tender  and  fympathetic, — one  of  the  pure 
fprings  which  fed  the  more  boifterous  current  of  his  humour 
when  he  came  out  among  men,  to  deal  with  quackery,  pre 
tence,  and  injuftice.  But  what  is,  perhaps,  moft  worthy  of 
notice  in  Freneau  is  his  originality,  the  inftmcT:  with  which 
his  genius  marked  out  a  path  for  itfelf,  in  thofe  days  when 
moft  writers  were  languidly  leaning  upon  the  old  foreign 
fchool  of  Pope  and  Darwin.  He  was  not  afraid  of  home 
things  and  incidents.  Dealing  with  fa&s  and  realities,  and 
the  life  around  him,  wherever  he  was,  his  writings  have  ftill 
an  intereft  where  the  vague  expreffions  of  other  poets  are 
forgotten.  *  *  *  It  is  not  to  be  denied,  however,  that 
Freneau  was  fometimes  carelefs.  He  thought  and  wrote 
with  improvidence.  His  jefts  are  fometimes  mifdire&ed  ; 
and  his  verfes  are  unequal  in  execution.  Yet  it  is  not  too 


ill  PHILIP    KRENhAU. 

much  to  predict,  that,  through  the  genuine  nature  of  f. 

is  productions,  and  the  hiftoric  incidents  of  others,  all 
that  lie  wrote  will  yet  be  called  for,  and  find  favour  in  nu 
merous  editions."* 

This  prediction  was  ventured  ten  years  ago.  It  is  now 
in  a  meafure  fulfilled,  in  the  demand  for  the  prefent  im 
print — the  only  publication  in  America  of  any  collection  of 
Krcneau's  writings  fince  the  year  1815,  and  the  firft  of  his 
Revolutionary  Poems  fince  1809. 

*  "Cyclopziia  of  American  Literature,"  i.  317-348. 


THE 

RISING    GLORY    OF   AMERICA. 

Bang  far*  °f a  DIALOGUE,  pronounced  on  a  public  occafwn* 


•  Venicnt  annis 
Saecula  feris,  quibus  oceanus 
Vincula  rerum  laxet,  et  ingens 
Pateat  tellus,  Typhifquc  novos 
Detegat  orbes  ;  nee  fit  terris 

Ultima  Thule. 

Seneca,  Med.  Act.  iii.  v.  375. 


ARGUMENT. 

THE  fubjeft  propofed^ The  difcovery  of  America  by  Columbus A  philo- 

fophical  enquiry  into  the  origin  of  the  favages  of  America The  firft  planters 

from   Europe Caufes   of  their   migration    to  America The    difficulties 

they  encountered  from  the  jealoufy  of  the  natives Agriculture  defcanted 

on Commerce  and   navigation Science Future    profpefts  of  Britifh 

ufurpation,  tyranny,  and  devaluation  on  this  fide  the  Atlantic The  more 

comfortable  one  of  Independence,  Liberty,  and  Peace Conclufion. 

Acafto. 

W  {hall  the  adventurous  Mufe  attempt  a  theme 
More  new,  more  noble,  and  more  flufh  of  fame 
Than  all  that  went  before — 
Now  through  the  veil  of  ancient  days  renew 

*  N.  B.  This  Poem  is  a  little  altered  from  the  original  (published  in  Philadel 
phia,  in  1772),  fuch  parts  being  only  inferted  here  as  were  written  by  the  author  of 
this  Volume.      A  few  more  modern  lines,  towards  the  conclufion,  are  incorporated 
with  the  reft,  being  a  fuppofed  prophetical  anticipation  of  fubfequent  events. 

[The  circumftances  under  which  the  Poem  was  compofed  have  been  noticed 
in  the  Prefatory  Memoir  of  the  author.1 
r 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

The  period  fam'd  when  firft  Columbus  touch'd 

Thefe  (bores  fo  long  unknown — through  various  toils, 

Famine,  and  death,  the  hero  forc'd  his  way, 

Thro'  oceans  pregnant  with  perpetual  ftorms, 

And  climates  hoftile  to  advent'rous  man. 

But  why,  to  prompt  your  tears,  fhould  we  refume 

The  tale  of  Cortez,  furious  chief,  ordain'd 

With  Indian  blood  to  dye  the  fands,  and  choak, 

Fam'd  Mexico,  thy  ftreams  with  dead  ?  or  why 

Once  more  revive  the  tale  fo  oft  rehears'd 

Of  Atabilipa,  by  thirft  of  gold, 

(All  conquering  motive  in  the  human  breaft) 

Depriv'd  of  life,  which  not  Peru's  rich  ore 

Nor  Mexico's  vaft  mines  could  then  redeem  ? 

Better  thefe  northern  realms  demand  our  fong, 

Defign'd  by  nature  for  the  rural  reign, 

For  agriculture's  toil. — No  blood  we  ftied 

For  metals  buried  in  a  rocky  wafte. 

Curs'd  be  that  ore,  which  brutal  makes  our  race, 
And  prompts  mankind  to  (bed  a  brother's  blood  ! 

Eugenia. 
But  whence  arofe 


That  vagrant  race  who  love  the  fhady  vale, 

And  choofe  the  foreft  for  their  dark  abode  ? — 

For  long  has  this  perplext  the  fages*  fkill 

To  invert igate. — Tradition  lends  no  aid 

To  unveil  this  fecret  to  the  mortal  eye, 

When  firft  thefe  various  nations,  north  and  fouth, 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA.  3 

PofTeft  thefe  mores,  or  from  what  countries  came. — 

Whether  they  fprang  from  fome  primaeval  head 

In  their  own  lands,  like  Adam  in  the  eaft, — 

Yet  this  the  facred  oracles  deny, 

And  reafon,  too,  reclaims  againft  the  thought  : 

For  when  the  general  deluge  drown'd  the  world 

Where  could  their  tribes  have  found  fecurity, 

Where  find  their  fate,  but  in  the  ghaftly  deep  ? — 

Unlefs,  as  others  dream,  fome  chofen  few 

High  on  the  Andes  'fcap'd  the  general  death, 

High  on  the  Andes,  wrapt  in  endlefs  fnow, 

Where  winter  in  his  wildeft  fury  reigns, 

And  fubtile  aether  fcarce  our  life  maintains. 

But  here  philofophers  oppofe  the  fcheme  : 

This  earth,  fay  they,  nor  hills  nor  mountains  knew 

Ere  yet  the  univerfal  flood  prevail'd  ; 

But  when  the  mighty  waters  rofe  aloft, 

Rous'd  by  the  winds,  they  fhook  their  folid  bafe, 

And,  in  convulfions,  tore  the  delug'd  world, 

'Till  by  the  winds  afluag'd,  again  they  fell, 

And  all  their  ragged  bed  expos'd  to  view. 

PERHAPS,  far  wandering  toward  the  northern  pole, 
The  ftreights  of  Zembla,  and  the  frozen  zone, 
And  where  the  eaftern  Greenland  almoft  joins 
America's  north  point,  the  hardy  tribes 
Of  banifh'd  Jews,  Siberians,  Tartars  wild 
Came  over  icy  mountains,  or  on  floats 
Firft  reach'd  thefe  coafts,  hid  from  the  world  befide. — 
And  yet  another  argument  more  ftrange, 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

Referv'd  for  men  of  deeper  thought,  and  late, 

Prefcnts  itfclf  to  view  : — In  Pe/fg's*  days, 

(So  fays  the  Hebrew  fecr's  unerring  pen) 

This  mighty  mafs  of  earth,  this  folid  globe 

tt'as  cleft  in  twain, — "divided"  eaft  and  weft, 

While  ftraight  between,  the  deep  Atlantic  roll'd. — 

And  traces  indifputable  remain 

OF  this  primeval  land,  now  funk  and  loft. — 

The  iflands  rifing  in  our  eaftern  main 

Are  but  fmall  fragments  of  this  continent, 

Whofe  two  extremities  were  Newfoundland 

And  St.  Helena. — One  far  in  the  north, 

Where  fhivering  feamen  view  with  ftrange  surprize 

The  guiding  pole-ftar  glittering  o'er  their  heads  ; 

The  other  near  the  fouthern  tropic  rears 

Its  head  above  the  waves — Bermuda's  ifles, 

Cape  Verd,  Canary,  Britain,  and  the  Azores, 

With  fam'd  Hibernia,  are  but  broken  parts 

Of  fome  prodigious  wafte,  which  once  fuftain'd 

Nations  and  tribes,  of  vanifh'd  memory, 

Forefts,  and  towns,  and  beafts  of  every  clafs, 

Where  navies  now  explore  their  briny  way. 

Leander. 

Your  fophiftry,  Eugenic,  makes  me  fmile  : 
The  roving  mind  of  man  delights  to  dwell 
On  hidden  things,  merely  becaufe  they're  hid  : 

*  Gen.  X.  15. 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

He  thinks  his  knowledge  far  beyond  all  limit, 

And  boldly  fathoms  Nature's  darkeft  haunts 

But  for  uncertainties,  your  broken  ifles, 

Your  northern  Tartars,  and  your  wandering  Jews, 

(The  flimfy  cobwebs  of  a  fophift's  brain) 

Hear  what  the  voice  of  hiftory  proclaims — 

The  Carthaginians,  ere  the  Roman  yoke 

Broke  their  proud  fpirits,  and  enflav'd  them  too, 

For  navigation  were  renown'd  as  much 

As  haughty  Tyre  with  all  her  hundred  fleets, 

Full  many  a  league  their  vent'rous  feamen  fail'd 

Thro'  ftreight  Gibraltar,  down  the  weftern  {here 

Of  Africa,  to  the  Canary  ifles  : 

By  them  call'd  Fortunate  ;  fo  Flaccus*  fmgs, 

Becaufe  eternal  fpring  there  clothes  the  fields 

And  fruits  delicious  bloom  throughout  the  year. — 

From  voyaging  here,  this  inference  I  draw, 

Perhaps  fome  barque  with  all  her  numerous  crew 

Falling  to  leeward  of  her  deftin'd  port, 

Caught  by  the  eaftern  Trade,  was  hurried  on 

Before  the  unceafmg  blaft  to  Indian  ifles, 

Brazil,  La  Plata,  or  the  coafts  more  fouth — 

There  ftranded,  and  unable  to  return, 

Forever  from  their  native  fkies  eftrang'd 

Doubtlefs  they  made  thefe  virgin  climes  their  own, 

And  in  the  courfe  of  long  revolving  years 

A  numerous  progeny  from  thefe  arofe, 

*  Hor.  Epod.  1 6. 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

And  fprcad  throughout  the  coafts — thofe  whom  we  call 
Brazilians,  Mexicans,  Peruvians  rich, 
The  tribes  of  Chili,  Patagon,  and  thofe 

Who  till  the  fhores  of  Amazon's  long  ftream. 

When  firft  the  power  of  Europe  here  attain'd 
Vaft  empires,  kingdoms,  cities,  palaces 
And  polilh'd  nations  ftock'd  the  fertile  land. 
Who  has  not  heard  of  Cufco,  Lima,  and 
The  town  of  Mexico — huge  cities  form'd 
From  Europe's  architecture  ;  ere  the  arms 

Of  haughty  Spain  difturb'd  the  peaceful  foil. 

But  here,  amid  this  northern  dark  domain 

No  towns  were  feen  to  rife. — No  arts  were  here ; 

The  tribes  unfldll'd  to  raife  the  lofty  maft, 

Or  force  the  daring  prow  thro'  adverfe  waves, 

Gaz'd  on  the  pregnant  foil,  and  crav'd  alone 

Life  from  the  unaided  genius  of  the  ground, — 

This  indicates  they  were  a  different  race  ; 

From  whom  defcended,  'tis  not  ours  to  fay — 

That  power,  no  doubt,  who  furnifti'd  trees,  and  plants, 

And  animals  to  this  vaft  continent, 

Spoke  into  being  man  among  the  reft, 

But  what  a  change  is  here  ! — what  arts  arife  ! 
What  towns  and  capitals  !  how  commerce  waves 
Her  gaudy  flags,  where  filence  reign'd  before  ! 

Acafto. 

Speak,  my  Eugenio,  for  I've  heard  you  tell 
The  difmal  ftory,  and  the  caufe  that  brought 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

The  firft  adventurers  to  thefe  weftern  fhores ; 
The  glorious  caufe  that  urg'd  our  fathers  firft 
To  vifit  climes  unknown,  and  wilder  woods 
Than  e'er  Tartarian  or  Norwegian  faw, 
And  with  fair  culture  to  adorn  a  foil 
That  never  felt  the  induftrious  fwain  before. 

Eugenio. 

All  this  long  ftory  to  rehearfe,  would  tire, 
Befides,  the  fun  toward  the  weft  retreats, 
Nor  can  the  nobleft  theme  retard  his  fpeed, 
Nor  loftieft  verfe — not  that  which  fang  the  fall 
Of  Troy  divine,  and  fierce  Achilles'  ire. 
Yet  hear  a  part : — By  perfecution  wrong'd, 
And  facerdotal  rage,  our  fathers  came 
From  Europe's  hoftile  mores  to  thefe  abodes, 
Here  to  enjoy  a  liberty  in  faith , 
Secure  from  tyranny  and  bafe  controul. 
For  this  they  left  their  country  and  their  friends, 
And  dar'd  the  Atlantic  wave  in  queft  of  peace ; 
And  found  new  fhores,  and  fylvan  fettlements, 
And  men,  alike  unknowing  and  unknown. 
Hence,  by  the  care  of  each  adventurous  chief 
New  governments  (their  wealth  unenvied  yet) 
Were  form'd  on  liberty  and  virtue's  plan. 
Thefe  fearching  out  uncultivated  traces 
Conceiv'd  new  plans  of  towns,  and  capitals, 
And  fpacious  provinces — Why  mould  I  name 
Thee,  Penn,  the  Solon  of  our  weftern  lands  ; 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

Sagacious  legiflator,  whom  the  world 

Admires,  long  dead  :  an  infant  colony, 

Nurs'd  by  thy  care,  now  rifes  o'er  the  reft 

Like  that  tall  Pyramid  in  Egypt's  wafte 

O'er  all  the  neighbouring  piles,  they  alfo  great. 

Why  mould  I  name  thofe  heroes  fo  well  known, 

Who  peopled  all  the  reft  from  Canada 

To  Georgia's  fartheft  coafts,  Weft  Florida, 

Or  Apalachian  mountains  ? — Yet  what  ftreams 

Of  blood  were  med  !  what  Indian  hofts  were  flain, 

Before  the  days  of  peace  were  quite  reftor'd  ! 

Leander. 

Yes,  while  they  overturn'd  the  rugged  foil 
And  fwept  the  forefts  from  the  (haded  plain 
'IVlidft  dangers,  foes,  and  death,  fierce  Indian  tribes 
With  vengeful  malice  arm'd,  and  black  defign, 
Oft  murdered,  or  difpers'd,  thefe  colonies — 
Encourag'd,  too,  by  Gallia's  hoftile  fons, 
A  warlike  race,  who  late  their  arms  difplay'd 
At  Quebec,  Montreal,  and  fartheft  coafts 
Of  Labrador,  or  Cape  Breton,  where  now 
The  Britifh  ftandard  awes  the  fubjecl  hoft. 
Here,  thofe  brave  chiefs,  who,  lavifti  of  their  blood, 
Fought  in  Britannia's  caufe,  in  battle  fell ! — 
What  heart  but  mourns  the  untimely  fate  of  Wolfe 
Who,  dying,  conquer'd  ! — or  what  breaft  but  beats 
To  fharc  a  fate  like  his,  and  die  like  him  ! 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

Acafto. 

But  why  alone  commemorate  the  dead, 
And  pafs  thofe  glorious  heroes  by,  who  yet 
Breathe  the  fame  air,  and  fee  the  light  with  us  ? — 
The  dead,  Leander,  are  but  empty  names, 
And  they  who  fall  to-day  the  fame  to  us 
As  they  who  fell  ten  centuries  ago  ! — 
Loft  are  they  all  that  ihin'd  on  earth  before  ; 
Rome's  boldeft  champions  in  the  duft  are  laid, 
Ajax  and  great  Achilles  are  no  more, 

And  Philip's  warlike  fon,  an  empty  {hade  ! 

A  WASHINGTON  among  our  fons  of  fame 
We  boaft  confpicuous  as  the  morning  ftar 

Among  the  inferior  lights 

To  diftant  wilds  Virginia  fent  him  forth — 
With  her  brave  fons  he  gallantly  oppos'd 
The  bold  invaders  of  his  country's  rights, 
Where  wild  Ohio  pours  the  mazy  flood, 
And  mighty  meadows  fkirt  his  fubjecl:  ftreams. — 
But  now,  delighting  in  his  elm  tree's  made, 
Where  deep  Potowmac  laves  the  enchanting  fhore, 
He  prunes  the  tender  vine,  or  bids  the  foil 

Luxuriant  harvefts  to  the  fun  difplay. 

Behold  a  different  fcene — not  thus  employ'd 
Were  Cortez^  and  Pizarro,  pride  of  Spain, 
Whom  blood  and  murder  only  fatisfy'd, 
And  all  to  glut  their  avarice  and  ambition  ! 


tO  THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

Eugenia. 

Such  is  the  curfe,  Acafto,  where  the  foul 

Humane  is  wanting — but  we  boaft  no  feats 

Of  cruelty  like  Europe's  murdering  breed — 

Our  milder  epithet  is  merciful, 

And  each  American,  true  hearted,  learns 

To  conquer,  and  to  fpare  ;   for  coward  fouls 

Alone  feek  vengeance  on  a  vanquifh'd  foe. 

Gold,  fatal  gold,  was  the  alluring  bait 

To  Spain's  rapacious  tribes — hence  rofe  the  wars 

From  Chili  to  the  Caribbean  fea, 

And  Montezuma's  Mexican  domains  : 

More  bleft  a/e  we,  with  whofe  unenvied  foil 

Nature  decreed  no  mingling  gold  to  fhine, 

No  flaming  diamond,  precious  emerald, 

No  blufhing  fapphire,  ruby,  chryfolite, 

Or  jafper  red — more  noble  riches  flow 

From  agriculture,  and  the  induftrious  fwain, 

Who  tills  the  fertile  vale,  or  mountain's  brow, 

Content  to  lead  a  fafe,  a  humble  life, 

Among  his  native  hills,  romantic  fhades 

Such  as  the  mufe  of  Greece  of  old  did  feign, 

Allur'd  the  Olympian  gods  from  chryftal  fkies, 

Envying  fuch  lovely  fcenes  to  mortal  man. 

Leandcr. 

Long  has  the  rural  life  been  juftly  fam'd, 
And  bards  of  old  their  plcafing  pictures  drew 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA.  II 

Of  flowery  meads,  and  groves,  and  gliding  ftreams  ; 
Hence,  old  Arcadia — wood-nymphs,  fatyrs,  fawns ; 
And  hence  Elyfium,  fancied  heaven  below  ! — 
Fair  agridblture,  not  unworthy  kings, 
Once  exercis'd  the  royal  hand,  or  thofe 
Whofe  virtues  rais'd  them  to  the  rank  of  gods. 
See,  old  Laertes*  in  his  fhepherd  weeds 
Far  from  his  pompous  throne  and  court  auguft, 
Digging  the  grateful  foil,  where  round  him  rife 
Sons  of  the  earth,  the  tall  afpiring  oaks, 
Or  orchards,  boafting  of  more  fertile  boughs, 
Laden  with  apples  red,  fweet  fcented  peach, 
Pear,  cherry,  apricot,  or  spungy  plumb  ; 
While  through  the  glebe  the  induftrious  oxen  draw 
The  earth-inverting  plough. — Thofe  Romans  too, 
Fabricius  and  Camillus,  lov'd  a  life 
Of  neat  fimplicity  and  ruftic  blifs, 
And  from  the  noify  Forum  haftening  far, 
From  bufy  camps,  and  fycophants,  and  crowns, 
'Midft  woods  and  fields  fpent  the  remains  of  ///>, 
Where  full  enjoyment  ftill  awaits  the  wife. 
How  grateful,  to  behold  the  harvefts  rife, 
And  mighty  crops  adorn  the  extended  plains  ! — 
Fair  plenty  fmiles  throughout,  while  lowing  herds 
Stalk  o'er  the  fhrubby  hill  or  grafly  mead, 

Or  at  fome  {hallow  river  flake  their  thirft. 

The  inclofure,  now,  fucceeds  the  fhepherd's  care, 

*  Horn.  OdyflT.  B.  24. 


12  THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

Yet  milk-white  flocks  adorn  the  well  ftock'd  farm, 
And  court  the  attention  of  the  induftrious  fwain — 
Their  fleece  rewards  him  well ;  and  when  the  winds 
Blow  with  a  keener  blaft,  and  from  the^north 
Pour  mingled  tempefts  through  a  funlefs  fky 
(Ice,  fleet,  and  rattling  hail)  fecure  he  fits 
Warm  in  his  cottage,  fearlefs  of  the  ftorm, 
Enjoying  now  the  toils  of  milder  moons, 

Yet  hoping  for  the  fpring. Such  are  the  joys, 

And  fuch  the  toils  of  thofe  whom  heaven  hath  blefs'd 
With  fouls  enamour'd  of  a  country  life. 

Acajio. 

Such  are  the  vifions  of  the  ruftic  reign — 

But  this  alone,  the  fountain  of  fupport, 

Would  fcarce  employ  the  varying  mind  of  man  ; 

Each  feeks  employ,  and  each  a  different  way  : 

Strip  Commerce  of  her  fail,  and  men  once  more 

Would  be  converted  into  favages — 

No  nation  e'er  grew  focial  and  refin'd 

'Till  Commerce  firft  had  wing'd  the  adventurous  prow, 

Or  fent  the  flow-pac'd  caravan,  afar, 

To  waft  their  produce  to  fome  other  clime, 

And  bring  the  wifh'd  exchange — thus  came,  of  old, 

Golconda's  golden  ore,  and  thus  the  wealth 

Of  Ophir^  to  the  wifeft  of  mankind. 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

Eugenio. 

Great  is  the  praife  of  Commerce,  and  the  men 
Deferve  our  praife,  who  fpread  the  undaunted  fail, 
And  traverfe  every  fea — their  dangers  great, 
Death  ftill  to  combat  in  the  unfeeling  gale, 
And  every  billow  but  a  gaping  grave  : — 
There,  fkies  and  waters,  wearying  on  the  eye, 
For  weeks  and  months  no  other  profpecl:  yield 
But  barren  waftes,  unfathom'd  depths,  where  not 
The  blifsful  haunt  of  human  form  is  feen 

To  cheer  the  unfocial  horrors  of  the  way 

Yet  all  thefe  bold  defigns  to  Science  owe 

Their  rife  and  glory Hail,  fair  Science  !  thou, 

Tranfplanted  from  the  eaftern  fkies,  doft  bloom 

In  thefe  bleft  regions Greece  and  Rome  no  more 

Detain  the  Mufes  on  Cithatron's  brow, 
Or  old  Olympus,  crown'd  with  waving  woods, 
Or  Hamus*  top,  where  once  was  heard  the  harp, 
Sweet  Orpheus'  harp,  that  gain'd  his  caufe  below, 
And  pierc'd  the  heart  of  Orcus  and  his  bride  ; 
That  hufh'd  to  filence  by  its  voice  divine 
Thy  melancholy  waters,  and  the  gales 

O  Hebrus  /  that  o'er  thy  fad  furface  blow. 

No  more  the  maids  round  Alpheus'  waters  ftray, 
Where  he  with  Afethufcfs  ftream  doth  mix, 
Or  where  fwift  Tiber  difembogues  his  waves 
Into  the  Italian  fea,  fo  long  unfung  ; 
Hither  they  wing  their  way,  the  laft  the  beft 


14  THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

Of  countries,  where  the  arts  fhall  rife  and  grow, 

And  arms  fhall  have  their  day — even  now  we  boaft 

A  Franklin,  prince  of  all  philofophy, 

A  genius  piercing  as  the  electric  fire, 

Bright  as  the  lightning's  flafh,  explain'd  fo  well 

By  him,  the  rival  of  Britannia's  fage.* — 

This  is  the  land  of  every  joyous  found, 

Of  liberty  and  life,  fweet  liberty  ! 

Without  whofe  aid  the  nobleft  genius  fails, 

And  Science  irretrievably  muft  die. 

Leander. 

But  come,  Eugenio,  fince  we  know  the  part 

What  hinders  to  pervade  with  fearching  eye 

The  myftic  fcenes  of  dark  futurity  ! 

Say,  fhall  we  aflc  what  empires  yet  muft  rife, 

What  kingdoms,  powers  and  STATES,  where  now  are  feen 

Mere  dreary  waftes  and  awful  folitude, 

Where  Melancholy  fits,  with  eye  forlorn, 

And  time  anticipates,  when  we  fhall  fpread 

Dominion  from  the  north,  and  fouth,  and  weft, 

Far  from  the  Atlantic  to  Pacific  fhores, 

And  fhackle  half  the  convex  of  the  main  ! 

A  glorious  theme  ! — but  how  fhall  mortals  dare 
To  pierce  the  dark  events  of  future  years 
And  fcenes  unravel,  only  known  to  fate? 

*  Newton. 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF.  AMERICA.  15 

Acafto. 

This  might  we  do,  if  warm'd  by  that  bright  coal 
Snatch'd  from  the  altar  of  cherubic  fire 
Which  touch'd  Ifaiah's  lips — or  if  the  fpirit 
Of  Jeremy  and  Amos,  prophets  old, 

Might  fwell  the  heaving  breaft 1  fee,  I  fee 

Freedom's  establim'd  reign  ;   cities,  and  men, 
Numerous  as  fands  upon  the  ocean  more, 
And  empires  rifing  where  the  fun  defcends  ! — 
The  Ohio  foon  fhall  glide  by  many  a  town 
Of  note  ;  and  where  the  MiJJtfippi  ftream, 
By  forefts  fhaded,  now  runs  weeping  on, 
Nations  mail  grow,  and  STATES  not  lefs  in  fame 
Than  Greece  and  Rome  of  old  ! — we  too  mail  boaft 
Our  Scipio's,  Solon's,  Gate's,  fages,  chiefs 
That  in  the  womb  of  time  yet  dormant  lie, 

Waiting  the  joyous  hour  of  life  and  light • 

O  fnatch  me  hence,  ye  mufes,  to  thofe  days 
When  through  the  veil  of  dark  antiquity 
Our  fons  mall  hear  of  us  as  things  remote, 

That  blofTom'd  in  the  morn  of  days Alas  ! 

How  could  I  weep  that  we  were  born  fo  foon, 
Juft  in  the  dawning  of  thefe  mighty  times, 
Whofe  fcenes  are  panting  for  eternity  ! 
Diflentions  that  mail  fwell  the  trump  of  fame, 
And  ruin  brooding  o'er  all  monarchy  ! 


l6  THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA. 

Eugenia. 

Nor  fhall  thefe  angry  tumults  here  subfide 

Nor  murders*  ceafc,  through  all  thefe  provinces, 

Till  foreign  crowns  have  vanifh'd  from  our  view 

And  dazzle  here  no  more no  more  prefume 

To  awe  the  fpirit  of  fair  Liberty — 

Vengeance  fhall  cut  the  thread — And  Britain,  fure, 

Will  curfe  her  fatal  obftinacy  for  it  ! 

Bent  on  the  ruin  of  this  injur'd  country, 

She  will  not  liften  to  our  humble  prayers, 

Though  offer'd  with  fubmiflion  : 

Like  vagabonds,  and  objects  of  deftruclion, 

Like  thofe  whom  all  mankind  are  fworn  to  hate, 

She  cafts  us  off  from  her  protection, 

And  will  invite  the  nations  round  about, 

Ruffians  and  Germans,  flaves  and  favages, 

To  come  and  have  a  (hare  in  our  perdition 

O  cruel  race,  O  unrelenting  Britain,  4 

Who  bloody  beafts  will  hire  to  cut  our  throats, 

Who  war  will  wage  with  prattling  innocence, 

And  bafely  murder  unoffending  women  ! 

Will  ftab  their  prifoners  when  they  cry  for  quarter, 
Will  burn  our  towns,  and  from  his  lodging  turn 

The  poor  inhabitant  to  fleep  in  tempests  ! 

Thefe  will  be  wrongs,  indeed,  and  all  fufficient 
To  kindle  up  our  fouls  to  deeds  of  horror, 

*  The    martacre    at    Bofton,   March    5th,   1770,    is    here    more    particularly 
glanced  at. 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA.  17 

And  give  to  every  arm  the  nerves  of  Sampfon — 
Thefe  are  the  men  that  fill  the  world  with  ruin, 

And  every  region  mourns  their  greedy  fway 

Nor  only  for  ambition 

But  what  are  this  world's  goods,  that  they  for  them 

Should  exercife  perpetual  butchery  ? 

What  are  thefe  mighty  riches  we  poflefs, 

That  they  mould  fend  fo  far  to  plunder  them  ?  — 

Already  have  we  felt  their  potent  arm — 

And  ever  fince  that  inaufpicious  day, 

When  firil  Sir  Francis  Bernard 

His  cannons  planted  at  the  council  door,  -  , 

And  made  the  afTembly  room  a  home  for  ftrumpets, 

And  foldiers  rank  and  file — e'er  fince  that  day 

This  wretched  land,  that  drinks  its  children's  gore, 

Has  been  a  fcene  of  tumult  and  confufion  ! — 

Are  there  not  evils  in  the  world  enough  ? 

Are  we  fo  happy  that  they  envy  us  ? 

Have  we  not  toil'd  to  fatisfy  their  harpies, 

King's  deputies,  that  are  infatiable ; 

Whose  practice  is  to  incenfe  the  royal  mind 

And  make  us  defpicable  in  his  view  ? 

Have  we  not  all  the  evils  to  contend  with 

That,  in  this  life,  mankind  are  fubjedT:  to, 

Pain,  ficknefs,  poverty  and  natural  death — 

But  into  every  wound  that  nature  gave 

They  will  a  dagger  plunge,  and  make  them  mortal ! 


THE    RISING    GIORY    OF    AMERICA. 

Leander. 

Enough,  enough — fuch  difmal  fcenes  you  paint, 
I  almoft  fhudder  at  the  recollection — 
What,  arc  they  dogs  that  they  would  mangle  us  ?• 
Arc  thefe  the  men  that  come  with  bafe  defign 
To  rob  the  hive,  and  kill  the  induftrious  bee  ! — 
To  brighter  fkies  I  turn  my  ravifh'd  view, 
And  fairer  profpecls  from  the  future  draw — 
Here  independent  power  fhall  hold  her  fway, 
And  public  virtue  warm  the  patriot  breaft  : 
No  traces  fhall  remain  of  tyranny, 
And  laws,  a  pattern  to  the  world  befide, 
Be  here  enafted  firft. 

Acajlo. 

And  when  a  train  of  rolling  years  are  part, 

(So  fung  the  exiPd  feer  in  Patmos  ifle) 

A  new  Jerufalem,  fent  down  from  heaven, 

Shall  grace  our  happy  earth — perhaps  this  land, 

Whofe  ample  breaft  fhall  then  receive,  tho'  late, 

Myriads  of  faints,  with  their  immortal  king, 

To  live  and  reign  on  earth  a  thoufand  years, 

Thence  called  Millennium.     Paradifc  anew 

Shall  flourifh,  by  no  fecond  Adam  loft. 

No  dangerous  tree  with  deadly  fruit  fhall  grow, 

No  tempting  ferpent  to  allure  the  foul 

From  native  innocence. A  Canaan  here, 

Another  Canaan  fhall  excel  the  old, 


THE    RISING    GLORY    OF    AMERICA.  19 

And  from  a  fairer  PifgaVs  top  be.feen. 
No  thiftle  here,  nor  thorn,  nor  briar  (hall  fpring, 
Earth's  curfe  before  :   the  lion  and  the  lamb, 
In  mutual  friendfhip  link'd,  {hall  browfe  the  (hrub, 
And  timorous  deer  with  foften'd  tygers  {tray 
O'er  mead,  or  lofty  hill,  or  grafly  plain  : 
Another  Jordan's  ftream  (hall  glide  along, 
And  Siloah's  brook  in  circling  eddies  flow  : 
Groves  fhall  adorn  their  verdant  banks,  on  which 
The  happy  people,  free  from  toils  and  death, 
Shall  find  fecure  repofe.      No  fierce  difeafe, 
No  fevers,  flow  confumption,  ghaftly  plague, 
(Fate's  ancient  minifters)  again  proclaim 
Perpetual  war  with  man  :   fair  fruits  {hall  bloom, 
Fair  to  the  eye,  and  grateful  to  the  tafte ; 
Nature's  loud  ftorms  be  hufh'd,  and  feas  no  more 
Rage  hoftile  to  mankind — and,  worfe  than  all, 
The  fiercer  paflions  of  the  human  breaft 
Shall  kindle  up  to  deeds  of  death  no  more, 

But  all  fubfide  in  univerfal  peace. 

Such  days  the  world, 

And  fuch,  AMERICA,  thou  firft  {halt  have, 
When  ages,  yet  to  come,  have  run  their  round, 
And  future  years  of  blifs  alone  remain. 


TO     THE     AMERICANS 

ON  THE  RUMOURED  APPROACH  OF  THE  HESSIAN   FORCES, 
WALDECKERS,  &c.,   1775. 


The  blaft  of  death  !  the  infernal  guns  prepare — 
"  Rife  with  the  ftorm  and  all  ill  dangers  (hare." 

Occasioned  by  General  Gage's  Proclamation :  That  the  Provinces  were  in  a 
ftate  of  Rebellion  and  out  of  the  King's  protection. * 

EBELS  you  are — the  Britifh  champion  cries — 
TRUTH,  ftand  thou  forth  ! — and  tell  the  wretch,  He 

lies : — 

Rebels  ! — and  fee  this  mock  imperial  lord 
Already  threats  tbefe  rebels  with  the  coRD.f 

V 

*  General  Gage's  celebrated  Proclamation  at  Bofton,  iSTued  June  ia,  1775. 
It  began:  "Whereas  the  infatuated  multitudes,  who  have  long  fuffered  thcm- 
felves  to  be  conducted  by  certain  well-known  incendiaries  and  traitors,  in  a  fatal 
progreflion  of  crimes  againSl  the  constitutional  authority  of  the  State,  have  at 
length  proceeded  to  avowed  rebellion,  and  the  good  effects  which  were  expected 
to  arife  from  the  patience  and  lenity  of  the  king's  government  hare  been  often 
frustrated,  and  are  now  rendered  hopelefs  by  the  influence  of  the  fame  evil  coun- 
fel«,  it  only  remains  for  thofe  who  are  intruftrd  with  the  fupreme  rule,  r.s  well 
for  the  puniftjment  of  the  guilty  as  the  protection  of  the  well-affected,  to  prove 
that  they  do  not  bear  the  fword  in  vain."  Frothingham.  in  his  "Siege  of  Bof 
ton,"  cites  the  comment  of  Mn.  Adams,  in  a  letter  dated  June  15,  1775,  to  her 
hufband  John  Adams  :  ''  Gage's  Proclamation  you  will  receive  by  this  convey 
ance.  All  the  records  of  time  cannot  produce  a  blacker  page.  Satan,  when 
driven  from  the  regions  of  blifs,  exhibited  not  more  malice.  Surely  the  father 
of  lies  is  fuperfeded.  Yet  we  think  it  the  beSt  proclamation  he  could  have 
iflued." 

f  General  Washington,  from  his  head-quarters  at  Cambridge,  on  the  nth  of 


TO    THE    AMERICANS.  21 

The  hour  draws  nigh,  the  glafs  is  almoft  run, 
When  truth  will  mine,  and  ruffians  be  undone ; 
When  this  bafe  mifcreant  will  forbear  to  fneer, 
And  curfe  his  taunts,  and  bitter  infults,  here. 

If  to  cowtroul  the  cunning  of  a  knave,  . 

Freedom  refpeft,  and  fcorn  the  name  of  SLAVE  ; 
If  to  proteft  againft  a  tyrant's  laws, 
And  arm  for  vengeance  in  a  righteous  caufe 
Be  deemed  REBELLION — 'tis  a  harmlefs  thing : 
This  bug-bear  name,  like  death,  has  loft  its  fling. 

AMERICANS  !  at  freedom's  fane  adore  ! 

But  truft  to  Britain  and  her  flag,  no  more : 

The  generous  genius  of  their  ifle  has  fled, 

And  left  a  mere  impoftor  in  his  ftead. 

If  conquered,  rebels  (their  Scotch  records  fhow) 

Receive  no  mercy  from  the  parent  foe.* 

Nay,  even  the  grave,  that  friendly  haunt  of  peace, 
(Where  nature  gives  the  woes  of  man  to  ceafe) 

Auguft,  1775,  addrefled  Lieutenant-General  Gage,  aflerting,  among  other  com 
plaints  :  "  That  the  officers  engaged  in  the  caufe  of  liberty  and  their  country,  who 
by  the  fortune  of  war  have  fallen  into  your  hands,  have  been  thrown  indifcrim- 
inately  into  a  common  gaol  appropriated  for  felons,"  and  threatening  retaliation 
in  like  cafes,  "  exactly  by  the  rule  you  mall  obferve  towards  thofe  of  ours  now  in 
your  cuftody/  To  this  Gage  replied,  on  the  I3th  :  "Britons,  ever  pre-eminent 
in  mercy,  have  outgone  common  examples,  and  overlooked  the  criminal  in  the 
captive.  Upon  thefe  principles  your  prifoners,  whofe  lives,  by  the  law  of  the 
land,  are  dcjlincd  to  the  cord,  have  hitherto  been  treated  with  care  and  kind 
ness,"  cCC. 

*  After  the  battle  of  Culloden.      See  Smollett's  Hiftory  of  England,  1745. 
—Author's  Note. 


.>  1  TO    THE    AMERICANS. 

Vengeance  will  fearch — and  buried  corpfes  there 
aifed  to  feaft  the  vultures  of  the  air — 
.uigcd  on  gibbets  ! — fuch  a  war  they  wage — 
i  are  the  devils  that  fwell  our  fouls  with  rage  ! — 

1 1  Britain  conquers,  help  us,  heaven,  to  fly  : 

Lend  us  your  wings,  ye  ravens  of  the  iky  ; — 

If  Britain  conquers,  we  exift  no  more  ; 

Thefe  lands  will  redden  with  their  children's  gore, 

Who,  turned  to  flaves,  their  fruitlefs  toils  will  moan, 

Toils  in  thefe  fields,  that  once  they  called  their  own  ! 

To  arms  !  to  arms  ! — and  let  the  murdering  fword 
Decide,  who  beft  deferves  the  HANGMAN'S  CORD  : 
Nor  think  the  hills  of  Canada  too  bleak 
When  defperate  Freedom  is  the  prize  you  feek  ; 
For  tbaty  the  call  of  honour  bids  you  go 
O'er  frozen  lakes,  and  mountains  wrapt  in  snow  : 
No  toils  fhould  daunt  the  nervous  and  the  bold, 
They  fcorn  all  heat,  or  wave  congealing  cold. — 

Hafte  ! — to  your  tents  in  iron  fetters  bring 
Thefe  SLAVES,  that  ferve  a  tyrant,  and  a  king, 
So  juft,  so  virtuous  is  your  caufe,  I  fay, 
Hell  muft  prevail,  if  Britain  gains  the  day. 


EMANCIPATION  FROM  BRITISH  DEPENDENCE. 

Libera  nos,  Domine — Deliver  us,  O  Lord, 
Not  only  from  Britiih  Dependence,  but  alfo, 

OM  a  junto  that  labour  for  abfolute  power, 
Whofe  fchemes  difappointed,  have  made  them  look  four, 
From  the  lords  of  the  council,  who  fight  againft  freedom, 
Who  ftill  follow  on  where  delufion  mail  lead  'em. 

From  the  group  at  St.  James's  that  flight  our  Petitions, 
And  fools  that  are  waiting  for  further  fubmiffions — 
From  a  nation  whofe  manners  are  rough  and  abrupt, 
From  fcoundrels  and  rafcals,  whom  gold  can  corrupt. 

From  pirates  fent  out  by  command  of  the  king 
To  murder  and  plunder,  but  never  to  fwing  ; 
From  Wallace,  and  Graves,  and  Vipers,  and  Rofes,* 
Whom,  if  heaven  pleafes,  we'll  give  bloody  nofes. 

*  Sir  James  Wallace,  Admiral  Graves,  and  Captain  Montague  were  Britifli 
naval  officers  employed  on  our  coaft.  The  Viper  and  Rofe  were  veflels  in  the 
fervice.  Lord  Dunmore,  the  laft  Royal  Governor  of  Virginia,  had  recently,  in 
April,  1775,  removed  the  public  ftores  from  Williamfburg,  and,  in  conjunction 
with  a  party  of  adherents,  fupported  by  the  naval  force  on  the  ftation,  was  ma 
king  war  on  the  province.  William  Tryon,  the  laft  Royal  Governor  of  New 
York,  informed  of  a  refolution  of  the  Continental  Congrefs  :  "That  it  be  recom 
mended  to  the  feveral  provincial  aflcmblies  in  conventions  and  councils,  or  com- 


24  EMANCIPATION    FROM    BRITISH    DEPENDENCE. 

From  the  valiant  Dunmore,  with  his  crew  of  banditti, 
Who  plunder  Virginians  at  Wilticmflwrg  city, 
From  hot-headed  Montague,  mighty  to  fwear, 
The  little  fat  man,  with  his  pretty  white  hair. 

From  bifliops  in  Britain,  who  butchers  are  grown, 
From  flaves,  that  would  die  for  a  fmile  from  the  throne, 
From  aflemblies,  that  vote  againft  Congrefs  proceedings, 
(Who  now  fee  the  fruit  of  their  ftupid  miflcadings.) 

From  Tryon  the  mighty,  who  flies  from  our  city, 
And  fwell'd  with  importance  difdains  the  committee  : 
(But  fince  he  is  pleas'd  to  proclaim  us  his  foes, 
What  the  devil  care  we  where  the  devil  he  goes.) 

From  the  caitiff,  lord  North,  who  would  bind  us  in  chains, 
From  our  noble  king  Log,  with  his  tooth-full  of  brains, 
Who  dreams,  and  is  certain  (when  taking  a  nap) 
He  has  conquered  our  lands,  as  they  lay  on  his  map. 

From  a  kingdom  that  bullies,  and  he&ors,  and  fwears, 

I  fend  up  to  heaven  my  wifhes  and  prayers 

That  we,  difunited,  may  freemen  be  ftill, 

And  Britain  go  on — to  be  damn'd  if  (he  will.          [I775-] 

mittees  of  fafety,  to  arreft  and  fecure  every  perfon  in  their  refpedivc  colonies 
whofe  going  at  large  may,  in  their  opinion,  endanger  the  fafety  of  the  c«il..iiy  IT 
the  liberties  of  America,"  difcerning  the  figns  of  the  times,  took  refuge  on  board 
the  Halifax  packet  in  the  harbour,  and  left  the  city  in  the  middle  of  October, 


GENERAL     GAGE'S     SOLILOQUY. 

Scene,  BOSTON,  befieged  by  the  men  of  Maflachufetts."* 
Written  and  fublijbed  in  New  York,  1775. 


Why,  let  the  flricken  deer  go  weep, 

The  hart,  unwounded,  play — 
For  fome  muft  write,  while  fome  muft  fpeak  ; 

So  runs  the  world  away  ! 

Shaltfpeare. 


"  TAESTRUCTION  waits  my  call— fome  demon  lay 

Why  does  deftru&ion  linger  on  her  way  ! 
Charleftown  is  burnt,  and  Warren  is  deceas'd — 
Heav'ns  !  fhall  we  never  be  from  war  releas'd  ? 


*  General  Thomas  Gage,  the  laft  Royal  Governor  of  Maflachufetts,  arrived  at 
Bofton  as  the  fucceffor  of  Governor  Hutchinfon  in  May,  1774.  His  firft  ap 
pearance  in  America  was  in  1755,  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  army  of  Gen 
eral  Braddock.  He  was  with  that  ill-fated  officer  at  the  time  of  his  defeat,  bore 
himfelf  confpicuoufly  in  the  battle,  and  was  wounded  on  the  field.  A  few  years 
later,  in  1760,  he  was  Governor  of  Montreal,  and,  in  1763,  fucceeded  General 
Amherft  in  command  of  the  Britifh  forces  in  North  America.  He  had  married 
a  lady  of  New  Jerfey,  and  was  in  good  efteem  in  the  colonies  for  his  agreeable 
manners.  Not  much,  however,  fays  Irving,  was  expected  from  him  in  his  new 
poft  of  Governor  of  Maflachufetts,  "  by  thofe  who  knew  him  well."  He  was 
narrow-minded,  and  failed  to  cftimate  at  their  proper  value  the  new  elements  of 
the  fituation  in  which  he  was  placed.  He  relied  upon  force  for  the  fupprefiion 
of  the  popular  fentiment,  offended  the  people  by  his  dictatorial  interference,  and 
clofed  a  year  of  aggreffion  by  his  celebrated  Proclamation  of  the  izth  of  June, 


26  GENERAL    CAGE'S    SOLILOQUY. 

Ten  years  the  Greeks  befieg'd  the  walls  of  Troy, 
But  when  did  Grecians  their  own  towns  deftroy  ? 
Yes  !  that's  the  point — Let  thofe  who  will,  fay,  No  ; 
If  GEORGE  and  NORTH  decree — it  muft  be  fo. 

DOUBTS,  black  as  night,  difturb  my  lov'd  repofe— 
Men  that  were  once  my  friends  have  turn'd  my  foes — 
What  if  we  conquer  this  rebellious  town. 
Suppofe  we  burn  it,  ftorm  it,  tear  it  down — 
This  land's  like  Hydra,  cut  off  but  one  head, 
And  TEN  fhall  rife,  and  dare  you  in  its  ftead. 
If  to  fubdue  a  league  or  two  of  coaft 
Requires  a  navy,  and  fo  large  a  hoft, 
How  (hall  a  length  of  twice  feven  hundred  miles 
Be  brought  to  bend  to  two  European  ifles  ?— 
And  that,  when  all  their  utmoft  ftrength  unite, 
When  twelve*  dominions  fwear  to  arm  and  fight, 
When  the  fame  fpirit  darts  from  every  eye, 
One  fix'd  refolve  to  gain  their  point  or  die- 

As  for  myfelf — true — I  was  born  to  fight 

1775,  'n  which  he  declared  martial  law,  and  offered  pardon,  on  fubmiflion,  to  all 
offenders  fave  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock.  He  had  juft  before  been 
joined  by  Generals  Howe,  Clinton,  and  Burgoyne.  Admiral  Graves  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  government  veflels  in  the  harbour.  The  war  of  the  Revolution,  com 
menced  at  Lexington  in  April,  was  now  in  progrefs.  The  battle  of  Bunker  Hill 
was  the  prompt  anfwer  of  the  yeomanry  of  Maflachufetts  to  the  Proclamation. 
Washington  took  the  field,  arriving  before  Bofton  at  the  beginning  of  July,  and 
the  ficgc  of  that  city,  commemorated  in  the  poem,  was  commenced.  General 
Gage  continued  in  command  till  October,  when,  leaving  Major-General  Howe 
a?  hi*  fucceflbr,  he  returned  to  England.  Howe  remained  at  Bofton  till  the  fol 
lowing  March,  when  he  was  compelled,  by  the  military  operations  of  Wafhing- 
ton  in  the  vicinity,  to  evacuate  the  city.  Gage  died  in  England  in  1788. 
*  Georgia  had  not  at  this  time  acceded  to  the  Union  of  the  i  3  States. 


GENERAL    GAGE  S    SOLILOQUY.  2J 

As  George  commands,  let  him  be  wrong  or  right, 
While  from  his  hand  I  fqueeze  the  golden  prize 
I'll  afk  no  queftions,  and  he'll  tell  no  lies — 
But  did  I  fwear,  I  afk  my  heart  again, 
In  their  bafe  projects  monarchs  to  maintain  ? 
Yes — when  REBELLION  her  artillery  brings 
And  aims  her  arrows  at  the  beft  of  kings, 
I  ftand  a  champion  in  my  monarch's  caufe — 
The  men  are  rebels  that  refift  his  laws. 

A  VICEROY  I — like  modern  monarchs,  flay 
Safe  in  the  town — let  others  guide  the  fray  : 
A  life,  like  mine,  is  of  no  common  worth  : 
'Twere  wrong,  by  heaven,  that  I  fhould  fally  forth  ! 
A  random  bullet  from  a  RIFLE  fent 
Might  pierce  my  heart ;  and  ruin  NORTH'S  intent : 
Let  others  combat  in  the  dufty  field, 
Let  petty  captains  fcorn  to  live  or  yield, 
I'll  fend  my  mips  to  neighbouring  ifles,  where  ftray 
Unnumb'red  herds,  and  fteal  thofe  herds  away, 
I'll  ftrike  the  women  in  this  town  with  awe, 
And  make  them  tremble  at  my  martial  law. 

Should  gracious  heaven  befriend  our  troops  and  fleet, 
And  throw  this  vaft  dominion  at  my  feet, 
How  would  Britannia  echo  with  my  fame  ! 
What  endlefs  honours  would  await  my  name  ! 
In  every  province  mould  the  traveller  fee 

Recording  marble  rais'd,  to  honour  me 

Hard  by  the  lakes,  my  fovereign  lord  would  grant 
A  rural  empire  to  fupply  my  want, 


28  GENERAL    GAGE'S    SOLILOQUY. 

A  manor  would  but  poorly  ferve  my  turn, 
Lefs  than  a  kingdom  from  my  foul  I  fcorn  ! 
An  ample  kingdom  round  Ontario's  lake 
By  heaven,  fhould  be  the  leaft  reward  I'd  take, 
There  might  I  reign,  unrivall'd  and  alone, 

An  ocean  and  an  empire  of  my  own  ! 

What  though  the  fcribblers  and  the  wits  might  fay, 

He  built  his  pile  on  vanquiflfd  LIBERTY 

Let  others  meanly  dread  the  flanderous  tongue, 
While  I  obey  my  king,  can  I  do  wrong  ? — 

Then,  to  accomplifh  all  my  foul's  defire, 
Let  red-hot  bullets  fet  their  towns  on  fire  ; 
May  heaven,  if  fo  the  righteous  judgment  pafs, 
Change  earth  to  fteel,  the  fky  to  folid  brafs, 
Let  hofts  combin'd,  from  Europe  centring  here, 
Strike  this  bafe  offspring  with  alarm  and  fear  ; 
Let  heaven's  broad  concave  to  the  center  ring, 
And  blacked  night  expand  her  fable  wing, 
The  infernal  powers  in  dufky  combat  join, 
Wing  the  fwift  ball,  or  fpring  the  deadly  mine  ; 
(Since  'tis  moft  true,  tho'  fome  may  think  it  odd, 
The  foes  of  Britain  are  the  foes  of  God  :) 
Let  bombs,  like  comets,  kindle  all  the  air, 
Let  cruel  famine  prompt  the  orphan's  prayer, 
And  every  ill  that  war  or  want  can  bring 
Be  (hower'd  on  fubje&s  that  renounce  their  king. 

What  is  their  plea  ? — our  fovereign  only  meant 
This  people  fhould  be  tax'd  without  confent. 
Ten  years  the  court  with  fecret  cunning  try'd 


GENERAL    GAGE  S    SOLILOQUY.  29 

To  gain  this  point — the  event  their  hopes  bely'd  : 
How  fhould  they  elfe  than  fometimes  mifs  the  mark 
Who  fleep  at  helm,  yet  think  to  fleer  the  barque  ? 
NORTH,  take  advice  ;  thy  lucky  genius  (how, 
Difpatch  Sir  JEFFERY*  to  the  fates  below. 
That  gloomy  prince,  whom  mortals  Satan  call, 
Muft  help  us  quickly,  if  he  help  at  all — 
You  ftrive  in  vain  by  force  of  bribes  to  tie, 
They  fee  thro'  all  your  fchemes  with  half  an  eye, 
If  open  force  with  fecret  bribes  /join, 
The  conteft  fickens — and  the  day  is  mine. 

But  hark  the  trumpet's  clangor — hark — ah  me  I 
What  means  this  march  of  Wafhington  and  Lee  ? 
When  men,  like  thefe,  fuch  diftant  marches  make, 
Fate  whifpers  fomething — that  we  can't  miftake  ; — 
When  men  like  thefe  defy  my  martial  rule, 

Good  heaven  !  it  is  no  time  to  play  the  fool 

Perhaps,  they  for  their  country's  freedom  rife ; 

North  has,  perhaps,  deceiv'd  me  with  his  lies. — 

If  George  at  laft  a  tyrant  mould  be  found, 

A  cruel  tyrant,  by  no  fanc~tions  bound, 

And  I,  myfelf,  in  an  unrighteous  caufe 

Be  fent  to  execute  the  worft  of  laws, 

How  will  thofe  dead  whom  I  conjur'd  to  fight — 

Who  funk  in  arms  to  everlafting  night, 

Whofe  blood  the  conquering  foe  confpir'd  to  fpill 

At  Lexington  and  Bunker's  fatal  hill, 

*  Sir  Jeffery  Amherft,  who  about  this  time  refufed  to  aft  againft  the  colo 
nial  caufc. — Author's  Note. 


30  GENERAL    GAGE'S    SOLILOQUY. 

Whofe  mangled  corpfes  fcanty  graves  embrace — 
Rife  from  thofe  graves,  and  curfe  me  to  my  face  ? — 

Alas  !  that  e'er  ambition  bade  me  roam, 
Or  thirft  of  power  forfake  my  native  home— 
What  mall  I  do  ? — there,  crowd  the  hoftile  bands ; 
Here,  waits  a  navy  to  receive  commands — 
I  fpeak  the  language  of  my  heart — fhall  I 
Steal  off  by  night,  and  o'er  the  ocean  fly, 
Like  a  loft  man  to  unknown  regions  ftray, 
And  to  oblivion  leave  this  ftormy  day  ? — 
Or  (hall  I  to  Britannia's  fhores  again, 
And,  big  with  lies,  conceal  my  thoufands  (lain  ? — 

Yes — to  fome  diftant  clime  my  courfe  I  fleer, 
To  any  country  rather  than  be  here, 
To  worlds,  where  Reafon  fcarce  exerts  her  law, 

A  branch-built  cottage,  and  a  bed  of  ftraw 

Even  Scotland's  coaft  feems  charming  in  my  fight, 

And  frozen  Zembla  yields  a  ftrange  delight. — 

But  fuch  vexations  in  my  bofom  burn, 

That  to  thefe  fhores  I  never  will  return, 

'Till  fruits  and  flowers  on  Greenland's  coafts  be  known, 

And  frofts  are  thaw'd  in  climates  once  their  own. 

Ye  fouls  of  fire,  who  burn  for  chief  command, 
Come  !  take  my  place  in  this  difaftrous  land  ; 
To  wars  like  thefe  I  bid  a  long  good  night — 
Let  NORTH  and  GEORGE  themfelves  fuch  battles  fight." 


THE  MIDNIGHT   CONSULTATIONS  :   OR  A  TRIP  TO 
BOSTON. 

CjMALL  blifs  is  theirs,  whom  Fate's  too  heavy  hand 
Confines  through  life  to  fome  fmall  fpeck  of  land  ; 
More  wretched  they,  whom  heaven  infpires  to  roam, 
Yet  languifh  out  their  lives,  and  die  at  home. 

Heaven  gave  to  man  this  wide  extended  round, 
No  climes  confine  him,  and  no  oceans  bound  ; 
Heaven  gave  him  foreft,  mountain,  vale  and  plain, 
And  bade  him  vanquifh,  if  he  could,  the  main  ; 
But  fordid  cares  our  fhort-liv'd  race  confine, 
Some  toil  at  trades,  fome  labour  in  the  mine, 
The  mifer  hoards,  and  guards  his  filming  (lore, 
The  fun  ftill  rifes  where  he  rofe  before — 
No  happier  fcenes  his  e\rth-born  fancy  fill 
Than  one  dark  valley,  or  one  well-known  hill, 
To  other  ftiores  his  mind,  untaught  to  ftray, 
Dull  and  inactive,  {lumbers  life  away. 

BUT  by  the  aid  of  yonder  glimmering  beam 
The  pole  ftar,  faithful  to  my  vagrant  dream, 
Wild  regent  of  my  heart  !   in  dreams  convey 
Where  herded  Britons  their  bold  ranks  difplay ; 
So  late  the  pride  of  England's  fertile  foil.  ,;-t 

(Her  grandeur  heighten'd  by  fucceffive  toil) 


32  THE    MIDNIGHT    CONSULTATIONS. 

See,  how  they  fickcn  in  thefe  hoftile  climes, 
Themes  for  the  ftage,  and  fubje&s  for  our  rhimes. 

\\HAT  modern  poet  have  the  mufes  led 
To  draw  the  curtain  that  conceals  the  dead? 
What  bolder  bard  to  Bofton  (hall  repair, 
To  view  the  peevifh,  half-ftarv'd  fpe&res  there  ? 

O  thou  wrong'd  country  !   why  fuftain  thefe  ills  ? 
Why  reft  thy  navies  on  their  native  hills  ? 
See,  endlefs  forefts  fhade  the  uncultur'd  plain, 
Defcend,  ye  forefts,  and  command  the  main  : 
A  leafy  verdure  (hades  the  mighty  maft, 
And  every  oak  bends  idly  to  the  blaft, 
Earth's  entrails  teem  with  ftores  for  your  defence, 
Defcend,  and  drag  the  ftores  of  war  from  thence  ; 
Your  fertile  foil  the  flowing  fail  fupplies, 

And  Europe's  arts  in  every  village  rife 

No  want  is  yours — Difdain  unmanly  fear. 
And  fwear,  no  Tyrant  Jhall  reign  mafter  here; 
Know  your  own  ftrength — in  rocky  deferts  bred, 
Shall  the  fierce  tiger  by  the  dog  be  led, 
And  bear  all  infults  from  that  marling  race 

Whofe  courage  lies  in  impudence  of  face  ? 

No — rather  bid  the  wood's  wild  native  turn, 
And  from  his  fide  the  unfaithful  guardian  fpurn. 

Now,  pleas'd,  I  wander  to  the  dome  of  ftate 
Where  Gage  refides,  our  weftern  potentate — 
Chief  of  ten  thoufand,  all  a  race  of  flaves, 
Sent  to  be  fhrouded  in  untimely  graves  ; 
Sent  by  our  angry  Jove^  fent  fword  in  hand 


THE    MIDNIGHT    CONSULTATIONS.  33 

To  murder,  burn,  and  ravage  through  the  land — 

You  dream  of  conqueft — tell  me  how  or  whence — 
Act  like  a  man,  and  get  you  gone  from  hence  ; 
A  madman  fent  you  to  this  hoftile  fhore 
To  vanquim  nation?,  that  fhall  fpill  your  gore — 
Go  fiends,  and  each  in  friendly  league  combin'd 
Deftroy,  diftrefs,  and  triumph  o'er  mankind  ! — 
'Tis  not  our  peace  this  murdering  hand  reftrains, 
The  want  of  power  is  made  the  monfter's  chains  ; 
Companion  is  a  ftranger  to  his  heart, 
Or  if  it  came,  he  bade  the  gueft  depart ; 
The  melting  tear,  the  fympathifmg  groan 
Were  never  yet  to  Gage  or  Jefferies*  known  ; 
The  feas  of  blood  his  heart  fore-dooms  to  fpill 
Is  but  a  dying  ferpent's  rage  to  kill, 
What  power  (hall  drive  thefe  vipers  from  our  fhore, 
Thefe  monfters  fwoln  with  carnage,  death,  and  gore  ' 
Twelve  was  the  hour — congenial  darknefs  reign'd> 

And  no  bright  ftar  a  mimic  day-light  feign'd 

Firft,  GAGE  we  faw — a  crimfon  chair  of  ftate 
Receiv'd  the  honour  of  his  honour's  weight, 
This  man  of  ftraw  the  regal  purple  bound, 
But  dullnefs,  deepeft  dullnefs,  hover'd  round. 

Next  Graves,  who  wields  the  trident  of  the  brine, 
The  tall  arch-captain  of  the  embattled  line 
All  gloomy  fate — mumbling  of  flame  and  fire, 
Balls,  cannon,  (hips,  and  all  their  damn'd  attire  ; 

*  An  inhuman  butchering  Englifh  Judge. — Authors  Note. 
3 


34  THE    MIDNIGHT    CONSULTATIONS. 

Well  pleas'd  to  live  in  never  ending  hum, 
But  empty  as  the  interior  of  his  drum. 

Hard  by,  BURGOYNE  aflumes  an  ample  fpace, 
And  feem'd  to  meditate  with  ftudious  face, 
As  if  again  he  wifh'd  our  world  to  fee 
Long,  dull,  dry  letters  writ  to  General  LEE — 
Huge  fcrawls  of  words  through  endlefs  circuits  drawn 
Unmeaning,  as  the  errand  he's  upon.— 
Is  he  to  conquer — he  fubdue  our  land  ? — 
This  buckram  hero,  with  his  lady's  hand  ? 
By  Cefars  to  be  vanquifh'd  is  a  curfe, 
But  by  a  fcribbling  fop — by  heaven,  is  worfe  ! 

Lord  Piercy  feem'd  to  more — but  may  the  mufe 
This  ill-tim'd  fnoring  to  the  peer  excufe  ; 
Tir'd  was  the  long  boy  of  his  toilfome  day, 
Full  fifteen  miles  he  fled — a  tedious  way, 
How  fhould  he  then  the  dews  of  Somnus  fhun, 
Perhaps  not  ufed  to  walk,  much  lefs  to  run.* 

*  Lord  Percy,  fubfequently  Duke  of  Northumberland.  He  was  fent  by  Gage 
with  a  detachment  to  the  fupport  of  Colonel  Smith  on  the  retreat  of  the  latter 
from  Concord,  on  the  celebrated  I9th  of  May,  1775.  He  came  up  with  the  re 
treating  party  in  the  afternoon,  and  returned  with  the  fugitives  to  Bofton.  Trum- 
bull,  in  his  "  McFingal,"  celebrates  the  exploits  of  the  Yankee  provincials  in  thU 
difaftrous  flight,  as  they 

"  Taught  Percy  falhionablc  races, 
And  modern  model  of  Chevy-chacei ." 

Halleck's  allufion  to  Percy  among  the  Dukes  of  Northumberland,  in  his  "  Aln- 
wick  Caftle,"  will  be  remembered  by  the  reader : — 

"  Who,  when  a  younger  fon, 
Fought  for  King  George  at  Lexington, 
A  major  of  dragoons." 


THE    MIDNIGHT    CONSULTATIONS  ^J 

Red  fac'd  as  funs,  when  finking  to  repofe, 
Reciin'd  the  infernal  captain  of  the  ROSE,* 
In  fame's  proud  temple  aiming  for  a  nich, 
With  thofe  who  find  her  at  the  cannon's  breech ; 
SkilPd  to  direcl:  the  cannonading  (hot, 
No  Turkifh  rover  half  fo  murdering  hot, 
Pleas'd  with  bafe  vengeance  on  defencelefs  towns, 
His  heart  was  malice — but  his  words  were,  Zounds  ! 

HOWE,  vext  to  fee  his  ftarving  army's  doom, 
Once  more  befought  the  ikies  for  elbow  room — 
Small  was  his  flock,  and  theirs,  of  heavenly  grace, 
Yet  juft  enough  to  afk  a  larger  place. — 
He  curs'd  the  brainlefs  minifter  that  plann'd 
His  bootlefs  errand  to  this  hoftile  land, 
But  aw'd  by  Gage,  his  burfting  wrath  recoil'd, 
And  in  his  inmoft  bofom  doubly  boil'd. 

These,  chief  of  all  the  tyrant-ferving  train, 
Exalted  fate — the  reft  (a  penfion'd  clan,) 
A  fample  of  the  multitudes  that  wait, 
Pale  fons  of  famine,  at  perdition's  gate, 
NORTH'S  friends  down  fwarming,  (fo  our  monarch  wills) 
Hungry  as  death,  from  Caledonian  hills ; 
Whofe  endlefs  numbers  if  you  bid  me  tell, 
(I'll  count  the  atoms  of  this  globe  as  well) 
Knights,  captains,  'fquires — a  wonder-working  band  ! 
Held  at  fmall  wages  'till  they  gain  the  land, 
Flock'd  penfive  round — black  fpleen  aflail'd  their  hearts, 

*  Captain  Wallace. 


36  THE    MIDNIGHT    CONSULTATIONS. 

(The  fport  of  plough  boys,  with  their  arms  and  arts) 
And  made  them  doubt  (howe'er  for  vengeance  hot) 
Whether  they  were  invincible  or  not. 

Now  Gage  up-Jlarting  from  his  cufhion'd  feat 
Swore  thrice,  and  cry'd — "  'Tis  nonfenfe  to  be  beat  ! 
Thus  to  be  drubb'd  ! — pray,  warriors,  let  me  know 

Which  be  in  tank,  myfelf,  the  fates,  or  you 

Henceforth  let  Britain  deem  her  men  mere  toys — 
Gods  !  to  be  frightened  thus  by  country  boys  ; 
Why,  if  your  men  had  had  a  mind  to  fup, 
They  might  have  eat  that  fcare-crow*  army  up — 
Three  thoufand  to  twelve  hundred  thus  to  yield, 
And  twice  five  hundred  flretch'd  upon  the  field  ! — 
O  {hame  to  Britain,  and  the  Britifh  name, 
Shame  damps  my  heart,  and  I  muft  die  with  fhame — 
Thus  to  be  worfted,  thus  difgrac'd  and  beat  ! — 
You  have  the  knack,  Lord  Piercy,  to  retreat, 
The  death  you  'fcap'd  my  warmeft  blood  congeals, 
Heaven  grant  me,  too,  fo  fwift  a  pair  of  heels — 
In  Chevy-Chace,  as,  doubtlefs,  you  have  read, 
Lord  Piercy  would  have  fooner  died  than  fled — 
Behold  the  virtues  of  your  houfe  decay — 
Ah  !  how  unlike  the  Piercy  of  that  day  !" 

Thus  fpoke  the  great  man  in  difdainful  tone 
To  the  gay  peer — not  meant  for  him  alone — 
But  ere  the  tumults  of  his  bofom  rife 
Thus  from  his  bench  the  intrepid  peer  replies  : 

*  School-boy. — ED.  179* 


THE    MIDNIGHT    CONSULTATIONS.  37 

"  When  once  the  foul  has  reach'd  the  Stygian  fhore, 

My  prayer-book  fays,  it  (hall  return  no  more 

When  once  old  Charon  hoifts  his  tar-black'd  fail, 
And  his  boat  fwims  before  the  infernal  gale, 
Farewell  to  all  that  pleas'd  the  man  above, 
Farewell  to  feats  of  arms,  and  joys  of  love, 
Farewell  the  trade  that  father  Cain  began, 
Farewell  to  wine,  that  cheers  the  heart  of  man  ; 
All,  all  farewell  ! — the  penfive  {hade  muft  go 
Where  cold  Medufa  turns  to  ftone  below, 
Where  Be/us'  maids  eternal  labours  ply 
To  drench  the  calk  that  flays  forever  dry, 
And  Sifiphus,  with  many  a  weary  groan, 
Heaves  up  the  mount  the  ftill  recoiling  ftone  ! 

"  Since,  then,  this  truth  no  mortal  dares  deny, 
That  heroes,  kings — and  lords,  themfelves,  muft  die, 
And  yield  to  him  who  dreads  no  hoftile  fword, 
But  treats  alike  the  peafant  and  the  lord  ; 
Since  even  great  George  muft  in  his  turn  give  place 
And  leave  his  crown,  his  Scotchmen,  and  his  lace — 
How  bleft  is  he,  how  prudent  is  the  man 
Who  keeps  aloof  from  fate — while  yet  he  can  ; 
One  well-aim'd  ball  can  make  us  all  no  more 
Than  (hipwreck'd  fcoundrels  on  that  leeward  more. 

u  But  why,  my  friends,  thefe  hard  reflections  ftill 

On  Lexington  affairs 'tis  Bunker's  Hill — 

O  fatal  hill  ! — one  glance  at  thee  reftrains 

My  once  warm  blood,  and  chills  it  in  my  veins — 

May  no  fweet  grafs  adorn  thy  hateful  creft 


38  THE    MIDNIGHT    CONSULTATIONS. 

That  faw  Britannia's  braved  troops  diftreft— 
Or  if  it  does — may  fome  deftru&ive  gale 
The  green  leaf  wither,  and  the  grafs  turn  pale — 
All  moifture  to  your  brow  may  heaven  deny, 

And  God  and  man  deteft  you,  juft  as  I 

'Tis  Bunker's  Hill,  this  night  has  brought  us  here, 
Pray  queftion  him  who  led  your  armies  there, 
Nor  dare  my  courage  into  queftion  call, 
Or  blame  Lord  Piercy  for  the  fault  of  all." 

HOWE  chanc'd  to  nod  while  heathenifh  Piercy  fpoke, 
But  as  his  lordftiip  ceas'd,  his  honour  'woke, 
(Like  thofe  whom  fermons  into  deep  betray) 
Then  rubb'd  his  eyes,  and  thus  was  heard  to  fay  : 

"  Shall  thofe  who  never  ventur'd  from  the  town, 
Or  their  (hips'  fides,  now  pull  our  glory  down  ? 
We  fought  our  beft — fo  God  my  honour  fave — 
No  Britifh  foldiers  ever  fought  fo  brave — 
Refolv'd  I  led  them  to  the  hoftile  lines, 
(From  this  day  fam'd  where'er  great  Phoebus  (bines) 
Firm  at  their  head  I  took  my  dangerous  (land, 
Marching  to  death  and  (laughter,  fword  in  hand, 
But  wonted  Fortune  halted  on  her  way, 
We  fought  with  madmen,  and  we  loft  the  day — 
Putnam's  brave  troops,  your  honours  would  have  fwore 
Had  robb'd  the  clouds  of  half  their  nitrous  ftore, 
With  my  bold  veterans  ftrew'd  the  aftonish'd  plain, 
For  not  one  mufquet  was  discharg'd  in  vain. — 
But,  honour'd  Gage,  why  droops  thy  laurell'd  head  ? — 
Five  hundred  foes  we  pack'd  off  to  the  dead. 


THE    MIDNIGHT    CONSULTATIONS.  39 

"  Now  captains,  generals,  hear  me  and  attend  ! 
Say,  fhall  we  home  for  other  fuccours  fend  ? 

Shall  other  navies  crofs  the  ftormy  main  ? 

They  may,  but  what  fhall  awe  the  pride  of  Spain  ? 
Still  for  dominion  haughty  Louis  pants — 
Ah  !  how  I  tremble  at  the  thoughts  of  France. — 
Shall  mighty  George,  to  enforce  his  injur'd  laws, 

Tranfport  all  Ruffia  to  fupport  the  caufe  ? 

That  ally'd  empire  countlefs  fhoals  may  pour 

Numerous  as  fands  that  ftrew  the  Atlantic  more, 

But  policy  inclines  my  heart  to  fear 

They'll  turn  their  arms  againft  us,  when  they're  here — 

Come,  let's  agree — for  fomething  muft  be  done 

Ere  autumn  flies,  and  winter  haftens  on — 

When  pinching  cold  our  navy  binds  in  ice, 

You'll  find  'tis  then  too  late  to  take  advice." 

The  clock  ftrikes  two  ! — Gage  fmote  upon  his  breaft, 

And  cry'd, — "  What  fate  determines  muft  be  beft 

But  now  attend — a  counfel  I  impart 

That  long  has  laid  the  heavieft  at  my  heart 

Three  weeks — ye  gods  ! — nay,  three  long  years  it  feems 

Since  roafl-beef\  have  touch'd,  except  in  dreams. 

In  fleep,  choice  dimes  to  my  view  repair, 

Waking,  I  gape  and  champ  the  empty  air. — 

Say,  is  it  juft  that  I,  who  rule  thefe  bands, 

Should  live  on  hufks,  like  rakes  in  foreign  lands  ? — 

Come  let  us  plan  fome  project  ere  we  fleep 

And  drink  deftruftion  to  the  rebel  fheep. 

On  neighbouring  ifles  uncounted  cattle  ftray, 


<J.O  THE    MIDNIGHT    (  v  N;  ULTATIONS. 

Fat  beeves,  and  fwine,  an  ill  defended  prey— 

Thcfe  are  fit  vifions  for  my  noon  day  difh, 

Thefe,  if  my  foldiers  a&  as  I  would  wifh, 

In  one  fhort  week  fhould  glad  your  maws  and  mine — 

On  mutton  we  will  fup — on  roaft  beef  dine." 

Shouts  of  applaufe  re-echo'd  thro'  the  hall, 
And  what  pleas'd  one  as  furely  pleas'd  them  all, 
WALLACE  was  nam'd  to  execute  the  plan, 
And  thus  fheep-ftealing  pleas'd  them  to  a  man. 

Now  (lumbers  ftole  upon  the  great  man's  eye, 
His  powder'd  foretop  nodded  from  on  high, 
His  lids  juft  ope'd  to  find  how  matters  were, 
DiJ/olve,  he  faid,  and  fo  dijjolv'd  ye  are^ 
Then  downward  funk  to  (lumbers  dark  and  deep, 
Each  nerve  relaxed — and  even  his  guts  afleep. 

EPILOGUE. 

WHAT  are  thefe  ftrangers  from  a  foreign  ifle, 
That  we  fhould  fear  their  hate,  or  court  their  fmile — 
Pride  fent  them  here,  pride  blafted  in  the  bud, 
Who  if  fhe  can,  will  build  her  throne  in  blood, 
With  (laughter'd  millions  glut  her  tearlefs  eyes, 
And  bid  even  virtue  fall,  that  fhe  may  rife. 

What  deep  offence  has  fir'd  a  monarch's  rage  ? 
What  moon-ftruck  madnefs  feiz'd  the  brain  of  G.\<,i  : 
Laughs  not  the  foul  when  an  imprifon'd  crew 
Affect  to  pardon  thofe  they  can't  fubdue, 
Tho*  thrice  repuls'd,  and  hemm'd  up  to  their  ftations, 


THE    MIDNIGHT    CONSULTATIONS.  4! 

Yet  iflue  pardons,  oaths,  and  proclamations  ' 

Too  long  our  patient  country  wears  their  chains, 
Too  long  our  wealth  all-grafping  Britain  drains. 

Why  (till  a  handmaid  to  that  diftant  land  ? 
Why  ftill  fubfervient  to  their  proud  command  ? 
Britain  the  bold,  the  generous,  and  the  brave 
Still  treats  our  country  like  the  meaneft  Have, 
Her  haughty  lords  already  mare  the  prey, 

Live  on  our  labours,  and  with  fcorn  repay 

Rife,  fleeper,  rife,  while  yet  the  power  remains, 
And  bind  their  nobles  and  their  chiefs  in  chains  : 
Bent  on  deftru&ive  plans,  they  fcorn  our  plea, 
'Tis  our  own  efforts  that  muft  make  us  free — 
Born  to  contend,  our  lives  we  place  at  flake, 
And  rife  to  conquerors*  by  the  ftand  we  make. — 

The  time  may  come  when  flrangers  rule  no  more, 
Nor  cruel  mandates  vex  from  Britain's  more, 
When  commerce  may  extend  her  fhorten'd  wing, 
And  her  rich  freights  from  every  climate  bring. 
When  mighty  towns  mall  flourim  free  and  great, 
Vaft  their  dominion,  opulent  their  ftate, 
When  one  vaft  cultivated  region  teems 
From  ocean's  fide  to  Miffifippi  flreams, 
While  each  enjoys  his  vine  tree's  peaceful  {hade, 
And  even  the  meaner!  has  no  foe  to  dread. 

And  you,  who  far  from  Liberty  detain'd, 
Wear  out  exiftence  in  fome  flavifh  land — 

*  Grow  immortal. — ED.  1795. 


42  THE    MIDNIGHT    CONSULTATIc 

Forfakc  thofe  fhorcs,  a  felf-eje&ed  throng, 
\'ul  arm'd  for  vengeance,  here  refent  the  wrong  : 
Come  to  our  climes,  where  unchain'd  rivers  flow, 
Ami  loftieft  groves,  and  boundlefs  forefts  grow, 
Here  the  blcft  foil  your  future  care  demands  ; 
C'ome,  fweep  the  forefts  from  thefe  (haded  lands, 
And  the  kind  earth  fhall  every  toil  repay, 
And  harvefts  flourifti  as  the  groves  decay. 

O  heav'n-born  Peace,  renew  thy  wonted  charms — 
Far  be  this  rancour,  and  this  din  of  arms — 
To  warring  lands  return,  an  honour'd  gueft, 
And  blefs  our  crimfon  fhore  among  the  reft— 
Long  may  Britannia  rule  our  hearts  again, 
Rule  as  (he  ruPd  in  George  the  fecond's  reign, 
May  ages  hence  her  growing  grandeur  fee, 
And  (he  be  glorious — but  ourfelvcs  as  free  ! 

[•775.] 


AMERICA    INDEPENDENT: 

AND    HER    EVERLASTING    DELIVERANCE    FROM    BRITISH 
TYRANNY    AND    OPPRESSION. 

Firji  publi/bed  in  Philadelphia,  by  Mr.  Robert  Bell,  in  1778. 


To  him  who  would  relate  the  ftory  right, 
A  mind  fupreme  fhould  dictate,  or  indite. — 

Yes  ! — juftly  to  record  the  tale  of  fame, 
A  mufe  from  heaven  (hould  touch  the  foul  with  flame, 
Some  powerful  fpirit,  in  fuperior  lays. 
Should  tell  the  conflicts  of  thefe  ftormy  days  ! 

'*  I  *IS  done  !  and  Britain  for  her  madnefs  fighs — 

Take  warning,  tyrants,  and  henceforth  be  wife, 
If  o'er  mankind  man  gives  you  regal  fway, 
Take  not  the  rights  of  human  kind  away. 

When  God  from  chaos  gave  this  world  to  be, 
Man  then  he  form'd,  and  form'd  him  to  be  free, 
In  his  own  image  ftampt  the  favourite  race — 
How  dar'ft  thou,  tyrant,  the  fair  ftamp  deface  ! 
When  on  mankind  you  fix  your  abject  chains, 
No  more  the  image  of  that  God  remains  ; 
O'er  a  dark  fcene  a  darker  made  is  drawn, 
His  work  dimonour'd,  and  our  glory  gone  ! 

When  firft  Britannia  fent  her  hoftile  crew 


44  AMERICA    IN»;.1'KNI5MNT. 

To  thcfe  far  fhorcs,  to  ravage  and  fuhdue, 
We  thought  them  gods,  and  almoft  fcem'd  to  fay 
No  ball  could  pierce  them,  and  no  dagger  flay — 
Heavens  !  what  a  blunder — half  our  fears  were  vain  ; 
Thefe  hoftile  gods  at  length  have  quit  the  plain, 
On  neighbouring  ifles  the  ftorm  of  war  they  fhun, 
Happy,  thrice  happy,  if  not  quite  undone. 

Yet  foon,  in  dread  of  fome  impending  woe, 
Even  from  thofe  ijlands  shall  thefe  ruffians  go — 
This  be  their  doom,  in  vengeance  for  the  (lain, 
To  pafs  their  days  in  poverty  and  pain  ; 
For  fuch  bafe  triumphs,  be  it  ftill  their  lot 
To  triumph  only  o'er  the  rebel  Scot; 
And  to  their  infect  ifle  henceforth  confin'd 
No  longer  lord  it  o'er  the  human  kind. — 

But,  by  the  fates,  who  ftill  prolong  their  ftay, 
And  gather  vengeance  to  conclude  their  day, 
Yet,  ere  they  go,  the  angry  Mufe  (hall  tell 
The  treafured  woes  that  in  her  bofom  fwell : 

Proud,  fierce,  and  bold,  O  Jove  !  who  would  not  laugh 
To  fee  thefe  bullies  worfhipping  a  calf: 
But  they  arejlaves  who  fpurn  at  Reafon's  rules  ; 
And  men,  once  flaves,  are  foon  transform'd  to  fools. — 

To  recommend  what  monarchies  have 
They  bring  for  witnefs  David  and  his  fon  ; 
How  one  was  brave,  the  other  juft  and  wife, 
And  hence  our  plain  Republics  they  defpife; 
But  mark  how  oft,  to  gratify  their  pride, 
The  people  fuffer'd,  and  the  people  died  : 


AMERICA    INDEPENDENT.  45 

Though  one  was  wife,  and  one  Goliah  flew, 
Kings  are  the  cboiceft  curfe  that  man  e'er  kneiu  ! 

Hail,  worthy  Britain  ! — how  enlarg'd  your  fame  ; 
How  great  your  glory,  terrible  your  name, 
"  Queen  of  the  ifles,  and  emprefs  of  the  main,"- 


Heaven  grant  you  all  thefe  mighty  things  again  ; 
But  first  infure  the  gaping  crowd  below 
That  you  lefs  cruel,  and  more  juft  may  grow : 
If  fate,  vindictive  for  the  fins  of  man, 
Had  favour  (hown  to  your  infernal  plan, 
How  would  your  nation  have  exulted  here, 
And  fcorn'd  the  widow's  figh,  the  orphan's  tear ! 
How  had  your  prince,  of  all  bad  men  the  worft, 
Laid  worth  and  virtue  proftrate  in  the  duft  ! 
A  fecond  Sawney*  had  he  (hone  to-day, 
A  world  fubdued,  and  murder  but  his  play. 
How  had  that  prince,  contemning  right  or  law, 
Glutted  with  blood  his  foul,  voracious  maw : 
In  him  we  fee  the  depths  of  bafenefs  join'd, 
Whate'er  difgrac'd  the  dregs  of  human  kind  ; 
Cain,  Nimrod,  Nero — fiends  in  human  guife, 
Herod,  Domitian — thefe  in  judgment  rife, 
And,  envious  of  his  deeds,  I  hear  them  fay 
None  but  a  GEORGE  could  be  more  vile  than  they. 

Swoln  tho'  he  was  with  wealth,  revenge,  and  pride, 
How  could  he  dream  that  heaven  was  on  his  fide — 
Did  he  not  fee,  when  fo  decreed  by  fate, 

*  Alexander  the  Great. — Author's  note. 


46  AMERICA    INDEPENDENT. 

They  plac'd  the  crown  upon  his  royal  pate, 
Did  he  not  fee  the  richeft  jewel  fall — * 
Dire  was  the  omen,  and  aftonifh'd  all — 

That  gem  no  more  fhall  brighten  and  adorn  ; 
No  more  that  gem  by  Britifh  kings  be  worn, 
Or  fwcll  to  wonted  heights  of  fair  renown 
The  fading  glories  of  their  boafted  crown. 

Yet  he  to  arms,  and  war,  and  blood  inclin'd, 
(A  fair-day  warrior,  with  a  feeble  mind, 
Fearlefs,  while  others  meet  the  (hock  of  fate, 
And  dare  that  death,  which  clips  his  thread  too  . 
He  to  the  fane  (O  hypocrite  !)  did  go, 
While  not  an  angel  there,  but  was  his  foe, 
There  did  he  kneel,  and  figh,  and  fob,  and  pray, 
Yet  not  to  lave  his  thoufand  fins  away, 
Far  other  motives  fway'd  his  fpotted  foul  ; 
'Twas  not  for  thofe  the  fecret  forrow  ftole 
Down  his  pale  cheek — 'twas  vengeance  and  defpair 
Diflblv'd  his  eye,  and  planted  forrow  there — 
How  could  he  hope  to  bribe  the  impartial  fky 
By  his  bafe  prayers,  and  mean  hypocrify — 
Heaven  ftill  is  juft,  and  ftill  abhors  all  crimes, 
Not  ads  like  George,  the  Nero  of  our  times — 
What  were  his  prayers — his  prayers  could  be  no  more 
Than  a  thief's  wifhes  to  recruit  his  ftore  ; 
Such  prayers  could  never  reach  the  worlds  above  ; 
They  were  but  curfes  in  the  ear  of  Jove  ; — 

*  A  real  event  of  that  day.     See  the  REMEMBRANCER  cf  1777.— Author^  not! 


AMERICA    INDEPENDENT.  47 

You  pray'd  that  conqueft  might  your  arms  attend, 
And  crufh  that  freedom  virtue  did  defend, 
That  the  fierce  Indian,  roufmg  from  his  reft, 
Might  thefe  new  regions  with  his  flames  inveft, 
With  fcalps  and  tortures  aggravate  our  woe, 
And  to  the  infernal  world  difmifs  your  foe. 

No  mines  of  gold  our  fertile  country  yields, 
But  mighty  harvefts  crown  the  loaded  fields, 
Hence,  trading  far,  we  gain'd  the  golden  prize, 
Which,  though  our  own,  bewitch'd  their  greedy  eyes — 
For  that  they  ravag'd  India's  climes  before, 
And  carried  death  to  Afia's  utmoft  fhore — 
dive  was  your  envied  flave,  in  avarice  bold 
He  mow'd  down  nations  for  his  dearer  gold  ; 
The  fatal  gold  could  give  no  true  content, 
He  mourn'd  his  murders,  and  to  Tophet  went. 

Led  on  by  luft  of  lucre  and  renown, 
Burgoyne  came  marching  with  his  thoufands  down, 
High  were  his  thoughts,  and  furious  his  career, 
Puff'd  with  felf-confidence  and  pride  fevere, 
Swoln  with  the  idea  of  his  future  deeds, 
Onward  to  ruin  each  advantage  leads : 
Before  his  hofts  his  heavieft  curfes  flew, 
And  conquer'd  worlds  rofe  hourly  to  his  view  : 
His  wrath,  like  Jove's,  could  bear  with  no  controul, 
His  words  befpoke  the  mifchief  in  his  foul ; 
To  fight  was  not  this  General's  only  trade, 
He  {hin'd  in  writing,  and  his  wit  difplay'd — 
To  awe  the  more  with  titles  of  command 


48  AMERICA    INDEPEN'D! 

He  told  of  forts  be  ruFd  in  Scotti(h  land  ; — 

Queen's  colonel  as  he  was,  he  did  not  know 

That  thorns  and  thiftles,  mix'd  with  honours,  grow ; 

In  Britain's  fenate  tho'  he  held  a  place, 

All  did  not  fave  him  from  one  long  difgrace, 

One  ftroke  of  fortune  that  convinc'd  them  all 

That  we  could  conquer,  and  lieutenants  fall. 

Foe  to  the  rights  of  man,  proud  plunderer,  fay 
Had  conqueft  crown'd  you  on  that  mighty  day 
When  you,  to  GATES,  with  forrow,  rage,  and  fliame 
Refign'd  your  conquefts,  honours,  arms,  and  fame, 
When  at  his  feet  Britannia's  wreathes  you  threw, 
And  the  fun  ficken'd  at  a  fight  fo  new  ; 
Had  you  been  vi&or — what  a  wafte  of  woe  ! 
What  fouls  had  vanifh'd  to  where  fouls  do  go  ! 
What  dire  diftress  had  mark'd  your  fatal  way, 
What  deaths  on  deaths  difgrac'd  that  difmal  day  ! 

Can  laurels  flourifh  in  a  foil  of  blood, 
Or  on  thofe  laurels  can  fair  honours  bud — 
Curs'd  be  that  wretch  who  murder  makes  his  trade, 
Curs'd  be  all  wars  that  e'er  ambition  made  ! 

What  murdering  Tory  now  relieves  your  grief, 
Or  plans  new  conquefts  for  his  favourite  chief; 
Defigns  ftill  dark  employ  that  ruffian  race, 
Beafts  of  your  choofing,  and  our  own  difgrace. 
So  vile  a  crew  the  world  ne'er  faw  before, 
And  grant,  ye  pitying  heavens,  it  may  no  more  : 
If  ghofts  from  hell  infeft  our  poifon'd  air, 
Thofe  ghofts  have  enter'd  their  bafe  bodies  here, 


AMERICA    INDEPENDENT.  49 

Murder  and  blood  is  ftill  their  dear  delight — 
Scream  round  their  roofs,  ye  ravens  of  the  night  ! 
Whene'er  they  wed,  may  demons,  and  defpair, 
And  grief  and  woe,  and  blackeft  night  be  there  ; 
Fiends  leagu'd  from  hell  the  nuptial  lamp  difplay, 
Swift  to  perdition  light  them  on  their  way, 
Round  the  wide  world  their  devilifh  fquadrons  chafe, 
To  find  no  realm,  that  grants  one  refting  place. 

Far  to  the  north,  on  Scotland's  utmoft  end 
An  ifle  there  lies,  the  haunt  of  every  fiend, 
No  fhepherds  there  attend  their  bleating  flocks 
But  wither'd  witches  rove  among  the  rocks  ; 
Shrouded  in  ice,  the  blafted  mountains  fhow 
Their  cloven  heads,  to  daunt  the  feas  below ; 
The  lamp  of  heaven  in  his  diurnal  race 
There  fcarcely  deigns  to  unveil  his  radiant  face, 
Or  if  one  day  he  circling  treads  the  fky 
He  views  this  ifland  with  an  angry  eye, 
Or  ambient  fogs  their  broad,  moift  wings  expand, 
Damp  his  bright  ray,  and  cloud  the  infernal  land ; 
The  blackening  winds  inceffant  ftorms  prolong, 
Dull  as  their  night,  and  dreary  as  my  fong ; 
When  ftormy  winds  and  gales  refufe  to  blow, 
Then  from  the  dark  fky  drives  the  unpitying  fnow  ; 
When  drifting  fnows  from  iron  clouds  forbear, 
Then  down  the  hailftones  rattle  through  the  air — 
There  fcreeching  owls,  and  fcreaming  vultures  reft 
And  not  a  tree  adorns  its  barren  breaft ; 
No  peace,  no  reft,  the  elements  beftow, 


50  AMERICA    INDEPENDENT. 

But  Teas  forever  rage,  and  ftorms  forever  blow. 

There,  LOYALS,  there  ;  with  loyal  hearts  retire 
There  pitch  your  tents,  and  kindle  there  your  fire  ; 
There  defert  Nature  will  her  ftings  difplay, 
And  fierceft  hunger  on  your  vitals  prey, 
And  with  yourfelves  let  John  Burgoyne  retire 
To  reign  the  monarch,  whom  your  hearts  admire. 

Britain,  at  laft  to  arreft  your  lawlefs  hand, 
Rifes  the  genius  of  a  generous  land, 
Our  injur'd  rights  bright  Gallia's  prince  defends, 
And  from  this  hour  that  prince  and  we  are  friends, 
Feuds,  long  up-held,  are  vanifh'd  from  our  view. 
Once  we  were  foes — but  for  the  fake  of  you — 
Britain,  afpiring  Britain,  now  muft  bend — 
Can  {he  at  once  with  France  and  us  contend, 
When  we  alone,  remote  from  foreign  aid, 
Her  armies  captur'd,  and  diftrefs'd  her  trade — 
Britain  and  we  no  more  in  combat  join, 
No  more,  as  once,  in  every  fea  combine  ; 
Dead  is  that  friendfhip  which  did  mutual  burn, 
Fled  is  the  fceptre,  never  to  return  ; 
By  fea  and  land,  perpetual  foes  we  meet, 
Our  caufe  more  honeft,  and  our  hearts  as  great ; 
Loft  are  thefe  regions  to  Britannia's  reign, 
Nor  (hall  thefe  ftrangers  of  their  lofs  complain, 
Since  all,  that  here  with  greedy  eyes  they  view, 
From  our  own  toil,  to  wealth  and  empire  grew  : 

Our  hearts  are  ravim'd  from  our  former  queen 
Far  as  the  ocean  God  hath  plac'd  between, 


AMERICA    INDEPENDENT.  5! 

They  ftrive  in  vain  to  join  this  mighty  mafs, 
Torn  by  convulfions  from  its  native  place 
As  well  might  men  to  flaming  Hecla  join 
The  huge  high  Alps  or  towering  Appennine ; 
In  vain  they  fend  their  half-commiflioned  tribe 
And  whom  they  cannot  conquer  ftrive  to  bribe  ; 
Their  pride  and  madnefs  burft  our  union  chain, 
Nor  mail  the  unwieldy  mafs  unite  again. 

Nor  think  that  France  fuftains  our  caufe  alone  ; 
With  gratitude  her  helping  hand  we  own. 
But  hear,  ye  nations — Truth  herfelf  can  fay 
We  bore  the  heat  and  danger  of  the  day: 
She  calmly  view'd  the  tumult  from  afar, 
We  brav'd  each  infult,  and  fuftain'd  the  war : 
Oft  drove  the  foe,  or  forc'd  their  hofts  to  yield, 
Or  left  them,  more  than  once,  a  dear  bought  field — 
'Twas  then,  at  laft  on  Jerfey  plains  diftreft, 
We  fwore  to  feek  the  mountains  of  the  weft, 
There  a  free  empire  for  our  feed  obtain, 
A  terror  to  the  flaves  that  might  remain.* 

*  "  In  this  dark  day  of  peril  to  the  caufe  and  to  himfelf  (at  the  clofe  of  1776) 
Wafhington  remained  firm  and  undaunted.  In  cafting  about  for  fome  ftronghold 
where  he  might  make  a  defperate  ftand  for  the  liberties  of  his  country,  his 
thoughts  reverted  to  the  mountain  regions  of  his  early  campaigns.  General 
Mercer  was  at  hand,  who  had  fhared  his  perils  among  thofe  mountains,  and  his 
prefence  may  have  contributed  to  bring  them  to  his  mind.  '  What  think  you,' 
faid  Wafhington,  '  if  we  fliould  retreat  to  the  back  parts  of  Pennfylvania,  would 
the  Pennfylvanians  fupport  us  ?'  '  If  the  lower  counties  give  up,  the  back  coun 
ties  will  do  the  fame,'  was  the  difcouraging  reply.  '  We  muft  then  retire  to 
Augufta  County,  in  Virginia,'  faid  Wafhington.  '  Numbers  will  repair  to  us  for 
fafety,  and  we  will  try  a  predatory  war.  If  overpowered,  we  muft  crofs  the  Alle- 
ghanies.*  Such  was  the  indomitable  fpirit,  rifmg  under  difficulties  and  buoyant 


52  AMERICA    INDEPENDENT. 

Peace  you  demand,  and  vainly  wi(h  to  find 
Old  leagues  renevv'd,and  ftrength  once  more  combin'd — 
Yet  (hall  not  all  your  bafe  diflembling  art 
Deceive  the  tortures  of  a  bleeding  heart — 
Yet  {hall  not  all  your  mingled  prayers  that  rile, 
Wafh  out  your  crimes,  or  bribe  the  avenging  fkies  ; 
Full  many  a  corpfe  lies  mouldering  on  the  plain 
That  ne'er  (hall  fee  its  little  brood  again  : 
See,  yonder  lies,  all  breathlefs,  cold,  and  pale, 
Drench'd  in  her  gore,  Lavinia  of  the  vale  ; 
The  cruel  Indian  feiz'd  her  life  away, 
As  the  next  morn  began  her  bridal  day  ! — 
This  deed  alone  our  juft  revenge  would  claim, 
Did  not  ten  thoufand  more  your  fons  defame.* 

Return'd,  a  captive,  to  my  native  fhore, 
How  chang'd  I  find  thofe  fcenes  that  pleas'd  before  ! 
How  chang'd  thofe  groves  where  fancy  lov'd  to  ftray, 
When  fpring's  young  bloflbms  bloom'd  along  the  way  : 
From  every  eye  diftils  the  frequent  tear, 
From  every  mouth  fome  doleful  tale  I  hear  ! 
Some  mourn  a  father,  brother,  hufband,  friend  : 
Some  mourn,  imprifon'd  in  their  native  land, 

in  the  darkeft  moment,  that   kept  our  tempcft-toft  caufe   from   foundering." — 
IRVING'S  Life  of  fPa/hington,  II.,  p.  448. 

*  An  allufion  to  Mifs  Jane  McCrca,  whofe  murder  by  a  party  of  Burgoync'i 
Indians,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Edward,  was  one  of  the  tragic  incidents  of  the 
war,  which,  with  the  feeling  of  horror  it  created,  called  forth  alfo  much  roman 
tic  fympathy.  Barlow  has  a  poetic  verfion  of  "  Luanda's  Fate"  in  the  fixth 
book  of  the  Columbiad.  Washington  Irving  has  told  the  ftory  in  his  fimple, 
effective  way,  with  fome  circumftances  derived  from  a  niece  of  Mifs  McCrea,  in 
the  third  volume  of  his  "  Life  of  Washington." 


AMERICA    INDEPENDENT.  53 

In  fickly  fhips  what  numerous  hofts  confin'd 

At  once  their  lives  and  liberties  refign'd  : 

In  dreary  dungeons  woeful  fcenes  have  pafs'd, 

Long  in  the  hiftorian's  page  the  tale  will  laft, 

As  long  as  fpring  renews  the  flowery  wood, 

As  long  as  breezes  curl  the  yielding  flood  : — 

Some  fent  to  India's  fickly  climes,  afar, 

To  dig,  with  flaves,  for  buried  diamonds  there, 

There  left  to  ficken  in  a  land  of  woe 

Where  o'er  fcorch'd  hills  infernal  breezes  blow, 

Whofe  every  blaft  fome  dire  contagion  brings, 

Fevers  or  death  on  its  deftru&ive  wings, 

'Till  fate  relenting,  its  laft  arrows  drew> 

Brought  death  to  them,  and  infamy  to  you. 

Pefts  of  mankind  !   remembrance  mall  recall 
And  paint  thefe  horrors  to  the  view  of  all ; 
Heaven  has  not  turn'd  to  its  own  works  a  foe 
Nor  left  to  monfters  thefe  fair  realms  below, 
Elfe  had  your  arms  more  wafteful  vengeance  fpread, 

And  thefe  gay  plains  been  dy'd  a  deeper  red. 

O'er  Britain's  ifle  a  thoufand  woes  impend, 
Too  weak  to  conquer,  govern,  or  defend, 
To  liberty  me  holds  pretended  claim — 
The  fubftance  we  enjoy,  and  they  the  name ; 
Her  prince,  furrounded  by  a  hoft  of  flaves, 
Still  claims  dominion  o'er  the  vagrant  waves  : 
Such  be  his  claims  o'er  all  the  world  befide, — 
An  empty  nothing — madnefs,  rage,  and  pride. 
From  Europe's  realms  fair  freedom  has  retir'd, 


54  AMERICA    INDEPENDENT. 

And  even  in  Britain  has  the  fpark  expir'd— 
Sigh  for  the  change  your  haughty  empire  feels, 
Sigh  for  the  doom  that  no  difguife  conceals ! 
Freedom  no  more  (hall  Albion's  cliffs  survey  ; 
Corruption  there  has  centred  all  her  fway, 
Freedom  difdains  her  honeft  head  to  rear, 
Or  herd  with  nobles,  kings,  or  princes  there  ; 
She  fhuns  their  gilded  fpires,  and  domes  of  ftate, 
Refolv'd,  O  Virtue,  at  thy  fhrine  to  wait ; 
'Midft  favage  woods  and  wilds  (he  dares  to  ftray, 
And  bids  uncultur'd  nature  bloom  more  gay. 

She  is  that  glorious  and  immortal  fun, 
Without  whofe  ray  this  world  would  be  undone, 
A  mere  dull  chaos,  funk  in  deepeft  night, 
An  abject  fomething,  void  of  form  and  light, 
Of  reptiles,  worft  in  rank,  the  dire  abode, 
Perpetual  mifchief,  and  the  dragon's  brood. 

Let  Turks  and  Ruffians  glut  their  fields  with  blood, 
Again  let  Britain  dye  the  Atlantic  flood, 
Let  all  the  eaft  adore  the  fanguine  wreathe 
And  gain  new  glories  from  the  trade  of  death — 
America  !  the  works  of  peace  be  thine, 
Thus  (halt  thou  gain  a  triumph  more  divine — 
To  thee  belongs  a  fecond  golden  reign, 
Thine  is  the  empire  o'er  a  peaceful  main  ; 
Protect  the  rights  of  human  kind  below, 
Crufh  the  proud  tyrant  who  becomes  their  foe, 
And  future  times  fhall  own  our  ftruggles  bleft, 
And  future  years  enjoy  perpetual  reft. 


AMERICA    INDEPENDENT.  55 

Americans  !  revenge  your  country's  wrongs  ; 
To  you  the  honour  of  this  deed  belongs, 
Your  arms  did  once  this  finking  land  fuftain, 
And  fav'd  thofe  climes  where  Freedom  yet  muft  reign — 
Your  bleeding  foil  this  ardent  tafk  demands, 
Expei  yon'  thieves  from  thefe  polluted  lands, 
Expect  no  peace  till  haughty  Britain  yields, 
'Till  humbled  Britons  quit  your  ravag'd  fields — 
Still  to  the  charge  that  routed  foe  returns, 
The  war  ftill  rages,  and  the  battle  burns — 
No  dull  debates,  or  tedious  counfels  know, 
But  rufh,  at  once,  embodied,  on  your  foe  ; — 
With  hell-born  fpite  a  feven  years  war  they  wage, 
The  pirate  Goodrich,  and  the  ruffian  Gage. 
Your  injur'd  country  groans  while  yet  they  ftay, 
Attend  her  groans,  and  force  their  hofts  away  ; 
Your  mighty  wrongs  the  tragic  mufe  (hall  trace, 
Your  gallant  deeds  fhall  fire  a  future  race ; 
To  you  may  kings  and  potentates  appeal, 
You  may  the  doom  of  jarring  nations  feal ; 
A  glorious  empire  rifes,  bright  and  new  ! 
Firm  be  its  bafis,  and  muft  reft  on  you — 
Fame  o'er  the  mighty  pile  expands  her  wings, 
Remote  from  princes,  bifhops,  lords,  and  kings, 
Thofe  fancied  gods,  who,  fam'd  through  every  fhore, 

Mankind  have  fafhion'd,  and,  like  fools,  adore. 

Here  yet  (hall  heaven  the  joys  of  peace  beftow, 
While  thro'  our  foil  the  ftreams  of  plenty  flow, 
And  o'er  the  main  we  fpread  the  trading  fail, 
Wafting  the  produce  of  the  rural  vale. 


ON     THE     NEW    AMERICAN     FRIGATE 

ALLIANCE.* 

A  S  Neptune  trac'd  the  azure  main, 

That  own'd  fo  late  proud  Britain's  reign, 
A  floating  pile  approach'd  his  car, 
The  fcene  of  terror,  and  of  war. 

*  The  "Alliance"  was  built  at  Salifbury,  Maflachufetts,  and  launched  about 
the  time  of  the  Treaty  with  France,  in  1778,  a  circumftance  from  which  her 
name  was  derived.  "She  was,"  says  Cooper,  "the  favourite  ftiip  of  the  Ameri 
can  Nary,  and,  it  might  be  added,  of  the  American  nation,  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution;  filling  fome  fuch  fpacc  in  the  public  mind,  as  has  fince  been  occu 
pied  by  her  more  celebrated  fucceflbr,  the  Conftitution.  She  was  a  beautiful  and 
an  exceedingly  faft  ftiip,  but  was  rendered  lefs  efficient  than  (he  might  otherwife 
have  proved,  by  the  miftakc  of  placing  her  under  the  command  of  a  French 
officer,  who  had  entered  the  fcrvice  with  a  view  to  pay  a  compliment  to  the  ntw 
allies  of  the  republic."  This  was  Captain  Landais,  with  whom  Lafayette  cm- 
barked  in  the  frigate  on  her  firft  voyage  from  Bofton  to  Brcft,  in  January,  i"<y- 
She  had  a  motley  crew,  including  fome  wrecked  Britifh  failors,  volunteers  from 
Britifh  prifoners,  and  a  few  French  fcamen.  The  refult  was  a  deeply  laid  plan 
for  a  mutiny  at  fea,  which  was  revealed  at  the  laft  moment  by  an  American 
failor  on  board,  to  whom  it  had  been  communicated.  By  the  energy  of  the 
officers  and  pafTengers  the  ringleaders  were  feized  and  the  danger  averted.  The 
Alliance  was  fubfequently  added  by  Dr.  Franklin,  in  Paris,  to  the  fquadn  :. 
at  the  difpofal  of  Commodore  Paul  Jones,  and,  under  the  management  of  her 
captain,  Landais,  bore  no  creditable  part  in  the  memorable  engagement  with  the 
Serapis.  Captain  Landais  was  fufpcnded  for  his  conduct  on  this  occafion,  though 
he  was  allowed  to  return  with  the  veflfel  to  America  in  1780.  On  the  paHa^e 
he  was  depofcd  from  the  command  on  the  charge  of  infanity,  and  was,  foon  after 


THE    ALLIANCE.  57 

As  nearer  ftill  the  monarch  drew, 

(Her  ftarry  flag  difplay'd  to  view) 

He  afk'd  a  Triton  of  his  train 

"  What  flag  was  this  that  rode  the  main — 

"  A  fhip  of  fuch  a  gallant  mien  .. 
"  This  many  a  day  I  have  not  feen, 
"  To  no  mean  power  can  me  belong, 
u  So  fwift,  fo  warlike,  ftout,  and  ftrong. 

"  See  how  me  mounts  the  foaming  wave — 
"  Where  other  (hips  would  find  a  grave, 
"  Majeftic,  aweful,  and  ferene,  * 

"  She  walks  the  ocean,  like  its  queen." — 

"  Great  monarch  of  the  hoary  deep, 

"  Whofe  trident  awes  the  waves  to  fleep, 

(Reply'd  a  Triton  of  his  train) 

"  This  mip,  that  ftems  the  weftern  main, 

"  To  thofe  new,  rifing  States  belongs, 
"  Who,  in  refentment  of  their  wrongs, 

landing,  difcharged  from  the  Navy.  The  Alliance,  on  this  voyage,  brought  a 
large  quantity  of  arms  and  ammunition  for  the  United  States.  Captain  John 
Barry  fucceeded  Landais  in  command  of  the  Alliance.  He  carried  Colonel  Lau- 
rens  in  her  to  France  early  in  1781,  and,  in  a  fubfequent  cruife  that  year,  victo- 
rioufly  encountered  on  the  Atlantic  the  Britifh  veffels  Atalanta  and  TrepafTy.  In 
the  following  year,  Barry  gained  other  laurels  in  command  of  the  Alliance  in  the 
Weft  Indies.  After  the  peace  this  renowned  frigate  was  fold,  and  converted  into 
an  Indiaman.  "Her  wreck,"  fays  Cooper,  in  1839,  "ftill  lies  on  the  ifland  op- 
pofite  to  Philadelphia." 


58  THE    ALLIANCE. 

"  Oppofe  proud  Britain's  tyrant  fway, 
"  And  combat  her,  by  land  and  fea. 

"  This  pile,  of  fuch  fuperior  fame, 
11  From  their  ftri&  union  takes  her  name, 
"  For  them  (he  cleaves  the  briny  tide, 
"  While  terror  marches  by  her  fide. 

"  When  {he  unfurls  her  flowing  fails, 
u  Undaunted  by  the  fierceft  gales, 
u  In  dreadful  pomp,  fhe  ploughs  the  main, 
u  While  adverfe  tempefts  rage  in  vain. 

u  When  (he  difplays  her  gloomy  tier, 
"  The  boldeft  Britons  freeze  with  fear, 
u  And,  owning  her  fuperior  might, 
"  Seek  their  beft  fafety  in  their  flight. 

"  But,  when  (he  pours  the  dreadful  blaze, 
"  And  thunder  from  her  cannon  plays, 
"  The  burfting  flafh  that  wings  the  ball, 
41  Compells  thofe  foes  \jojlrike,  or  fall. 

"Though  (he,  with  her  triumphant  crew, 
"  Might  to  their  fate  all  foes  purfue, 
"  Yet,  faithful  to  the  land  that  bore, 
"  She  ftays,  to  guard  her  native  fhore. 

"  Though  fhe  might  make  the  cruifers  groan 
4  That  fail  beneath  the  torrid  zone, 


THE    ALLIANCE.  59 

"  She  kindly  lends  a  nearer  aid, 

"  Annoys  them  here,  and  guards  the  trade. 

"  Now,  traverfing  the  eaftern  main, 

"  She  greets  the  fhores  of  France  and  Spain  ; 

"  Her  gallant  flag,  difplay'd  to  view, 

"  Invites  the  old  world  to  the  new. 

"  This  tafk  achiev'd,  behold  her  go 
"  To  feas  congeal'd  with  ice  and  fnow, 
"  To  either  tropic,  and  the  //»*, 
fcl  Where  funs  with  endlefs  fervour  {nine. 

"  Not,  Argo,  in  thy  womb  was  found 
"  Such  hearts  of  brafs,  as  here  abound  ; 
"  They  for  their  golden  fleece  did  fly, 
"  Thefe  fail — to  vanquifh  tyranny." 

[1778-] 


ON    THE    DEATH    OF 

CAPTAIN    NICHOLAS    BIDDLE, 

Commander  of  the  Randolph    Frigate^   blcwn  up  near   Barbadott* 

• 

V\/'HAT  diftant  thunders  rend  the  flues, 

What  clouds  of  fmoke  in  columns  rife, 

What  means  this  dreadful  roar  ! 
Is  from  his  bafe  Vefuviw  thrown, 
Is  (ky-topt  Atlas  tumbled  down, 

Or  Etna's  felf  no  more  ! 


*  Nicholas  Biddlc,  dcfccndcd  from  an  old  colonial  family  of  Weft  Jerfey,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  in  1750.  He  had  been  a  feaman  from  his  boyhood,  and, 
at  one  time,  was  rated  as  mid/hipman  on  board  a  Britifli  floop-of-war.  "  It  is  a 
(ingular  fact,"  fays  Cooper,  in  his  Naval  Hiftory,  "in  the  life  of  thi;  remark 
able  young  man,  that  he  entered  on  board  one  of  the  veflels  fent  towards  the 
north  pole,  under  the  Honourable  Captain  Phipps,  where  he  found  Nelfon,  a 
volunteer  like  himfclf.  Both  were  made  cockfwains  by  the  Commodore."  This 
was  in  1773;  two  vcars  later>  young  Biddle,  forefeeing  the  troubles  at  hand  in 
his  native  country,  returned  to  America,  took  part  in  the  ftruggle  of  the  colonies, 
and  was  early  employed  in  the  fcrvicc  of  Congrefs.  He  was  employed  on  the 
eaftern  coaft,  and  when  the  Randolph,  32,  was  launched  at  Philadelphia,  in  1776, 
he  was  made  her  commander.  He  failed  in  her  on  her  firft  cruife  early  the  next 
year,  put  into  Charlefton,  and,  failing  again  out  of  that  port,  captured  four  Ja 
maica-men,  with  which  he  returned  to  the  city.  There  he  was  detained  for  fome 
months  by  the  enemy's  blockade.  The  South  Cirolinians,  "  pleafed  with  his 


CAPTAIN    NICHOLAS    BIDDLE.  6 1 

Shock  after  (hock  torments  my  ear  ; 
And  lo  !  two  hoftile  {hips  appear, 

Red  lightnings  round  them  glow : 
The  Yarmouth  boafts  of  fixty-four, 
The  Randolph  thirty-two — no  more — 

And  will  me  fight  this  foe  ! 

zeal  and  deportment,"  fitted  out  for  him  four  fmall  vefTels,  which  he  took  out 
with  the  Randolph  on  a  cruife,  in  the  enfuing  fpring  of  1778.  On  the  7th  of 
March  he  encountered,  to  the  eaftward  of  Barbadoes,  the  Britifh  fhip  Yarmouth, 
64,  Captain  Vincent.  An  action  was  fought  at  clofe  quarters,  which  was  main 
tained  with  vigour  for  twenty  minutes,  when  the  Randolph  blew  up.  "  The  two 
fhips  were  fo  near  at  the  time,"  fays  Cooper,  in  his  narrative  of  the  affair,  derived 
from  a  publifhed  letter  of  Captain  Vincent,  "  that  many  fragments  of  the  wreck 
ftruck  the  Yarmouth  ;  and,  among  other  things,  an  American  enfign,  rolled  up, 
was  blown  in  upon  her  forecaftle.  This  flag  was  not  even  finged."  The  Yar 
mouth,  after  this,  left  the  fpot,  and  gave  chafe  to  two  of  the  vefTels  in  Captain 
Biddle's  company.  Returning  feveral  days  after  to  the  place,  Captain  Biddle 
picked  up  four  men  furviving  of  the  crew  of  the  Randolph,  who  had  faved 
ihemfelves  on  a  fragment  of  the  wreck.  "  In  the  action  with  the  Yarmouth," 
fays  Cooper,  u  Captain  Biddle  was  feverely  wounded  in  the  thigh,  and  he  is  faid 
to  have  been  feated  in  a  chair,  with  the  furgeon  examining  his  hurt,  when  his 
fhip  blew  up.  His  death  occurred  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-feven,  and  he  died 
unmarried,  though  engaged  at  the  time  to  a  lady  in  Charlefton.  His  lofs  was 
greatly  regretted  in  the  midft  of  the  excitement  and  viciflitudes  of  a  revolution, 
and  can  fcarcely  be  appreciated  by  thofe  who  do  not  underftand  the  influence 
that  fuch  a  character  can  produce  on  a  fmall  and  infant  fervice." 

Freneau,  with  patriotic  or  poetic  licenfe,  reprefents  his  hero  falling  at  the  point 
of  vidtory — an  afTumption  hardly  juftified  in  face  of  the  fuperiority  of  the  enemy, 
and  Captain  Vincent's  report  of  but  five  men  killed  and  twelve  wounded  in  the 
engagement.  Captain  Biddle,  however,  undoubtedly  acted  with  great  gallantry 
\\\  fteadily  working  his  fhip  in  fuch  an  unequal  conteft;  and  although,  in  the  words 
o:  Cooper,  "victory  was  almoft  hopelefs,  even  had  all  his  veflels  behaved  equally 
well  with  his  own  fhip,  we  find  it  difficult,  under  the  circumftances,  to  fuppofe 
that  this  gallant  feaman  did  not  actually  contemplate  carrying  his  powerful  an- 
tagonift,  moft  probably  by  boarding." 

A  memoir  of  Captain  Biddle,  with  a  portrait,  will  be  found  in  The  Port  Folio 
for  October,  1809. 


62  CAPTAIN    NICHOLAS    BIDDLE. 

The  Randolph  foon  on  Stygian  ftreams 
Shall  coaft  along  the  land  of  dreams, 

The  iflands  of  the  dead  ! 
But  fate,  that  parts  them  on  the  deep, 
Shall  fave  the  Briton  yet  to  weep 

His  days  of  victory  fled.* 

Say,  who  commands  that  difmal  blaze, 
Where  yonder  ftarry  ftreamer  plays  ; 

Does  Mars  with  Jove  engage  ! 
'Tis  Biddle  wings  thofe  angry  fires, 
Biddle,  whofe  bofom  Jove  infpires 

With  more  than  mortal  rage. 

Tremendous  flafh  ! — and  hark,  the  ball 
Drives  through  old  Yarmouth,  flames  and  all 

Her  braved  fons  expire  ; 
Did  Mars  himfelf  approach  fo  nigh, 
Even  Mars,  without  difgrace,  might  fly 

The  Randolph's  fiercer  fire. 

The  Briton  views  his  mangled  crew, 
"  And  (hall  we  ftrike  to  thirty-two 

(Said  Hector,  ftain'd  with  gore) 
"  Shall  Britain's  flag  to  thefe  defcend — 


*  We  give  this  ftanza  as  it  appears  in  the  author's  third  edition  of  1809.  It 
it  entirely  omitted  in  the  fecond  edition  of  1795.  In  the  firft,  of  1786,  the  con 
cluding  lines  read  : — 

Shall  fave  the  Briton,  ftill  to  weep 
His  ancient  honour*  fled. 


CAPTAIN    NICHOLAS    BIDDLE. 

"  Rife,  and  the  glorious  conflict  end, 
"  Britons,  I  afk  no  more  ! " 

He  fpoke — they  charg'd  their  cannon  round, 
Again  the  vaulted  heavens  refound, 

The  Randolph  bore  it  all, 
Then  fix'd  her  pointed  cannons  true — 
Away  the  unwieldy  vengeance  flew ; 

Britain,  thy  warriors  fall. 

The  Yarmouth  faw,  with  dire  difmay, 
Her  wounded  hull,  fhrouds  mot  away, 

Her  boldeft  heroes  dead — 
She  faw  amidft  her  floating  (lain 
The  conquering  Randolph  ftem  the  main — 

She  faw,  me  turn'd — and  fled  ! 

That  hour,  bleft  chief,  had  me  been  thine, 
Dear  Riddle,  had  the  powers  divine 

Been  kind  as  thou  wert  brave  ; 
But  fate,  who  doom'd  thee  to  expire, 
Prepar'd  an  arrow,  tipt  with  fire, 

And  mark'd  a  wat'ry  grave. 

And  in  that  hour,  when  conqueft  came, 
Wing'd  at  his  mip  a  pointed  flame, 

That  not  even  he  could  fhun — 
The  battle  ceas'd,  the  Yarmouth  fled, 


64  CAPTAIN    NICHOLAS    BIDDLE. 

The  burfting  Randolph  ruin  fpread, 
And  left  her  tafk  undone.* 

•> 

*   As  published  in  the  edition  of  1786,  the  laft  three  lines  of  this  ftanra  read  : — 

The  conqueft  ceas'd,  the  Yarmouth  fled, 
The  burfting  Randolph  ruin  fpread, 
And  loft  what  honour  won. 

In  the  edition  of  1795^  "  honour,"  in  the  laft  line,  is  changed  to  "courage." 
We  print  the  ftanza  from  the  author's  revifcd  edition  of  1809.  The  date  of  the 
action  is  erroneoufly  given,  1776,  in  the  title  of  the  poem  in  the  edition  of  1786 
(reprinted  in  England  in  1861),  and  in  the  Philadelphia  edition  of  1809. 


GEORGE  THE  THIRD'S  SOLILOQUY. 


mean  thefe  dreams,  and  hideous  forms  that  rife 
Night  after  night,  tormenting  to  my  eyes  — 
No  real  foes  thefe  horrid  (hapes  can  be, 
But  thrice  as  much  they  vex  and  torture  me. 

How  curs'd  is  he,  —  how  doubly  curs'd  am  I  — 
Who  lives  in  pain,  and  yet  who  dares  not  die  ; 
To  him  no  joy  this  world  of  Nature  brings, 
In  vain  the  wild  rofe  blooms,  the  daify  fprings. 
Is  this  a  prelude  to  fome  new  difgrace, 
Some  baleful  omen  to  my  name  and  race  !  — 
It  may  be  fo  —  ere  mighty  Cefar  died, 
Prefaging  Nature  felt  his  doom,  and  figh'd  ; 
A  bellowing  voice  through  midnight  groves  was  heard, 
And  threatening  ghofts  at  dufk  of  eve  appear'd  — 
Ere  Brutus  fell,  to  adverfe  fates  a  prey, 
His  evil  genius  met  him  on  the  way, 
And  fo  may  mine  !  —  but  who  would  yield  fo  foon 
A  prize,  fome  luckier  hour  may  make  my  own  ?  — 
Shame  feize  my  crown,  ere  fuch  a  deed  be  mine  — 
No  —  to  the  laft  my  fquadrons  mall  combine, 
And  flay  my  foes,  while  foes  remain  to  flay, 
Or  heaven  {hall  grant  me  one  fuccefsful  day. 
5 


66  GEORGE    THE    THIRD'S    SOLILOQUY. 

!.->  there  a  robber  clofe  in  Newgate  hcmmM, 
Is  there  a  cut-throat,  fetter'd  and  condemn'd  ? 
Halle,  loyal  flaves,  to  George's  ftandard  come, 
Attend  his  lectures  when  you  hear  the  drum  ; 
Your  chains  I  break — for  better  days  prepare," 
Come  out,  my  friends,  from  prifon  and  from  care, 
Far  to  the  weft  I  plan  your  defperate  fway, 
There  'tis  no  fin  to  ravage,  burn,  and  flay  ; 
There,  without  fear,  your  bloody  aims  purfue, 
And  (how  mankind  what  Englifh  thieves  can  do. 

That  day,  when  firft  I  mounted  to  the  throne, 
I  fwore  to  let  all  foreign  foes  alone. 
Through  love  of  peace  to  terms  did  I  advance, 
And  made,  they  fay,  a  fhameful  league  with  France. 
But  different  fcenes  rife  horrid  to  my  view, 
I  charg'd  my  hofts  to  plunder  and  fubdue — 
At  firft,  indeed,  I  thought  fhort  wars  to  wage, 
And  fent  fome  jail-birds  to  be  led  by  Gage^ 
For  'twas  but  right,  that  thofe  we  mark'd  for  flaves 
Should  be  reduc'd  by  cowards,  fools,  and  knaves  : 
Awhile,  directed  by  his  feeble  hand, 
Thofe  troops  were  kick'd  and  pelted  through  the  land, 
Or  ftarv'd  in  Bofton,  curs'd  the  unlucky  hour 
They  left  their  dungeons  for  that  fatal  fhore. 

France  aids  them  now,  a  defperate  game  I  play, 
And  hoftile  Spain  will  do  the  fame,  they  fay  ; 
My  armies  vanquifh'd,  and  my  heroes  fled, 
My  people  murmuring,  and  my  commerce  dead, 
My  fhatter'd  navy  pelted,  bruis'd,  and  clubb'd, 


GEORGE    THE    THIRD'S    SOLILOQUY.  67 

By  Dutchmen  bullied,  and  by  Frenchmen  drubb'd, 
My  name  abhorr'd,  my  nation  in  difgrace, 
How  mould  I  a6t  in  fuch  a  mournful  cafe  ! 
My  hopes  and  joys  are  vanifh'd  with  my  coin, 
My  ruin'd  army,  and  my  loft  Burgoyne  ! 
What  mail  I  do — confefs  my  labours  vain, 
Or  whet  my  tufks,  and  to  the  charge  again  ! 
But  where's  my  force — my  choiceft  troops  are  fled, 
Some  thoufands  crippled,  and  a  myriad  dead — 
If  I  were  own'd  the  boldeft  of  mankind, 
And  hell  with  all  her  flames  infpir'd  my  mind, 
Could  I  at  once  with  Spain  and  France  contend, 

And  fight  the  rebels,  on  the  world's  green  end  ? 

The  pangs  of  parting  I  can  ne'er  endure, 
Yet  part  we  muft,  and  part  to  meet  no  more  ! 
Oh,  blaft  this  Congrefs,  blaft  each  upftart  STATE, 
On  whofe  commands  ten  thoufand  captains  wait ; 
From  various  climes  that  dire  Affembly  came, 
True  to  their  truft,  as  hoftile  to  my  fame  ; 
'Tis  thefe,  ah  thefe,  have  ruin'd  half  my  fway, 
Difgrac'd  my  arms,  and  led  my  flaves  aftray — 
Curs'd  be  the  day,  when  firft  I  faw  the  fun, 
Curs'd  be  the  hour,  when  I  thefe  wars  begun  : 
The  fiends  of  darknefs  then  poflefs'd  my  mind, 
And  powers  unfriendly  to  the  human  kind. 
To  wafting  grief,  and  fullen  rage  a  prey, 
To  Scotland's  utmoft  verge  I'll  take  my  way, 
There  with  eternal  ftorms  due  concert  keep, 
And  while  the  billows  rage,  as  fiercely  weep — 


68  GEORGE    THE    THIRD'S    SOLILOQUY. 

Ye  highland  lads,  my  rugged  fate  bemoan, 
Aflift  me  with  one  fympathizing  groan  ; 
For  late  I  find  the  nations  are  my  foes, 
I  muft  fubmit,  and  that  with  bloody  nofe, 
Or,  like  our  James,  fly  bafely  from  the  ftate, 
Or  (hare,  what  ftill  is  worfe — old  Charles's  fate. 
[I779-] 


A  DIALOGUE  BETWEEN  GEORGE  AND  FOX. 

[Suppofed  to  have  pafled  about  the  time  of  the  approach  of  the  combined  fleets 
of  France  and  Spain  to  the  Britifh  coafts,  Auguft,  1779.] 

Q.OOD  CHARLY  Fox,  your  counfel  I  implore, 

Still  George  the  third,  but  potent  George  no  more. 
By  NORTH  conduced  to  the  brink  of  fate, 
I  mourn  my  folly  and  my  pride,  too  late  : 
The  promifes  he  made,  when  once  we  met 
In  Kew's  gay  {hades,  I  never  fhall  forget ; 
That  at  my  feet  the  weftern  world  fhould  fall, 
And  bow  to  me,  the  potent  lord  of  all — 
Curfe  on  his  hopes,  his  councils,  and  his  fchemes, 
His  plans  of  conqueft,  and  his  golden  dreams, 
Thefe  have  allured  me  to  the  jaws  of  hell  ; 
By  Satan  tempted  thus  Ifcariot  fell  : 
Diverted  of  majeftic  pomp,  I  come, 
My  royal  robes  and  airs  I've  left  at  home, 
Speak  freely,  friend,  whatever  you  choofe  to  fay, 
Suppofe  me  equal  with  yourfelf  to  day  : 
How  fhall  I  fhun  the  mifchiefs  that  impend  ? 
How  fhall  I  make  Columbia,  yet,  my  friend  ? 
I  dread  the  power  of  each  revolted  State, 


70  A    DIALOGUE    BETWEEN    GEORGE    AND    FOX. 

The  trembling  Eaft  hangs  ballanc'd  with  their  weight. 
How  (hall  I  dare  the  rage  of  France  and  Spain, 
And  loft  dominion  o'er  the  waves  regain  ? 
Advife  me  quick,  for  doubtful  while  we  ftand, 
Deftru&ion  gathers  o'er  this  wretched  land  : 
Thefc  hoftile  fquadrons,  to  my  ruin  led, 
Thefe  gallic  thunders  fill  my  foul  with  dread  : 
If  thcfe  (hould  triumph — Britain  thou  muft  fall, 
And  bend,  a  province  to  the  conquering  Gaul  : 
If  this  muft  be — thou  earth,  expanding  wide, 

Unlucky  George  in  thy  dark  entrails  hide 

Ye  oceans,  wrap  me  in  your  dark  embrace— 

Ye  mountains,  fhroud  me  to  your  loweft  bafe 

Fall  on  my  head,  ye  everlafting  rocks 

But  why  fo  penfive,  my  good  Charly  Fox  ? 

Fox. 

While  in  the  arms  of  power  and  peace  you  lay, 

Ambition  led  your  reftlefs  foul  aftray. 

PofTeft  of  lands,  extending  far  and  wide, 

And  more  than  Rome  could  boaft  in  all  her  pride, 

Yet,  not  contented  with  that  mighty  ftore, 

Like  fome  bafe  mifer,  ftill  you  fought  for  more  ; 

And,  all  in  raptures  for  a  tyrant's  reign, 

You  ftrove  your  fubje&s'  deareft  rights  to  chain  : 

Thofe  ruffian  Rofts,  beyond  the  ocean  fent, 

By  your  command,  on  blood  and  murder  bent, 

With  cruel  hand  the  form  of  man  defac'd, 

And  laid  the  toils  of  art  and  nature  wafte. 


A    DIALOGUE    BETWEEN    GEORGE    AND    FOX.  7 1 

(For  crimes  like  thefe  imperial  Britain  bends, 

For  crimes  like  thefe  her  ancient  glory  ends.) 

Thofe  lands,  once  trueft  to  your  name  and  race, 

Which  the  wide  ocean's  utmoft  waves  embrace, 

Your  juft  protection  bafely  you  deny'd, 

Their  towns  you  plunder'd,  and  you  burnt  befide. 

Virginia's  Haves,  without  one  blufti  of  fhame, 

Againft  their  caufe  you  arm'd  with  fword  and  flame  j 

At  every  port  your  mips  of  war  you  laid, 

And  ftrove  to  ruin  and  diftrefs  their  trade, 

Yet  here,  ev'n  here,  your  mighty  projects  fail'd  ; 

For  then  from  creeks  their  hardy  feamen  fail'd, 

In  (lender  barques  they  crofs'd  a  ftormy  main, 

And  traffick'd  for  the  wealth  of  France  and  Spain  ; 

O'er  either  tropic  and  the  line  they  pafs'd, 

And,  deeply  laden,  fafe  return'd  at  laft  : 

Nor  think  they  yet  had  bow'd  to  Britain's  fway, 

Though  diftant  nations  had  not  join'd  the  fray, 

Alone  they  fought  your  armies  and  your  fleet, 

And  made  your  Clintons  and  your  Howes  retreat, 

And  yet  while  France  ftood  doubting  if  to  join, 

Your  (hips  they  captur'd,  and  they  took  Burgoyne  ! 

How  vain  is  Britain's  ftrength,  her  armies  now 
Before  Columbia's  bolder  veterans  bow  ; 
Her  gallant  veterans  all  our  force  defpife, 
Though  late  from  ruin  we  beheld  them  rife  ; 
Before  their  arms  our  ftrongeft  bulwarks  fall ; 
They  ftorm  the  rampart  and  they  fcale  the  wall  ; 
With  equal  dread,  on  either  fervice  fent, 


72  A    DIALOGUE    BETWEEN    GEORGE    AND    FOX. 

They  feize  a  fortrefs,  or  they  ftrike  a  tent. 

But  fhcfulcl  we  bow  beneath  a  foreign  yoke, 
And  potent  France  atchieve  the  humbling  ftroke, 
Yet  every  power,  and  even  ourfelves,  muft  fay, 
"Juft  is  the  vengeance  of  the  fkies  to-day  :" 
For  crimes  like  ours  dire  vengeance  muft  atone  ; 
Forbear  your  fafts,  and  let  the  Gods  alone — 
By  cruel  kings,  in  fierce  Britannia  bred, 
Such  feas  of  blood  have,  firft  and  laft,  been  (bed, 
That  now,  diftreft  for  each  inhuman  deed, 
Our  turn  is  come — our  turn  is  come  to  bleed  : 
Forbear  your  groans  ;  for  war  and  death  array, 
March  to  the  foe,  and  give  the  fates  their  way. 
Can  we  behold  without  one  dying  groan, 
The  fleets  of  France  fuperior  to  our  own  ? 
.Can  we  behold,  without  one  poignant  pang, 
The  foreign  conquefts  of  the  brave  D'Eftaing  ? 
NORTH  is  your  friend,  and  now  deftruclion  knocks, 
Still  take  his  counfel,  and  regard  not  Fox. 

George. 

Ah  !  fpeak  not  thus — your  words  will  burft  my  heart, 
Some  fofter  counfel  to  my  ears  impart. 
How  can  I  march  to  meet  the  infulting  foe, 
Who  never  yet  to  hoftile  plains  did  go  ? 
When  was  I  vers'd  in  battles  or  in  blood  ? 
When  have  I  fought  upon  the  faithlefs  flood  ? 
Much  better  could  I  at  my  palace  door 
Recline,  ->nd  hear  the  diftant  cannons  roar. 


A    DIALOGUE    BETWEEN    GEORGE    AND    FOX. 

Generals  and  admirals  Britain  yet  can  boaft, 
Some -fight  on  land,  and  fome  defend  the  coaft ; 
The  fame  of  thefe  throughout  the  globe  refounds, 
To  thefe  I  leave  the  glory  and  the  wounds  ; 
But  fmce  this  honour  for  no  blood  atones, 
I  muft  and  will — be  careful  of  my  bones. 

What  pleafure  to  your  monarch  would  it  be, 
If  Lords  and  Commons  could  at  laft  agree  ; 
Could  North  with  Fox  in  firm  alliance  ftand, 
And  Burke  with  Sandwich  make  the  focial  hand, 
Then  mould  we  bring  the  rebels  to  our  feet, 
And  France  and  Spain  inglorioufly  retreat, 
Her  ancient  glories  to  this  ifle  return, 
And  we  no  more  for  loft  Columbia  mourn. 

Fox. 

Alliance  ! — what  ! — my  mafter  muft  be  mad: 
Say,  what  alliance  can  with  thefe  be  had  ? 

Can  lambs  and  wolves  in  focial  bands  ally  ? 

When  thefe  prove  friendly,  then  will  North  and  I. 
Alliance  !   no — I  curfe  the  abject  thought  ; 
Ally  with  thofe  their  country's  ruin  fought  ! 
Who  to  perdition  fold  their  native  land, 
Leagu'd  with  the  foe,  a  clofe  connected  band — 
Ally  with  thefe  ! — I  fpeak  it  to  your  face — 
Alliance  here,  is  ruin  and  difgrace. 
Angels  and  devils  in  fuch  bonds  unite, 
So  hell  is  allied  to  the  realms  of  light — 
Let  North  or  Sackville  ftill  my  prayers  deride, 


A    DIALOGUE    BETWEEN    GEORGE    AND    FOX. 

Let  turn-coat  John/tone  take  the  courtly  fide, 
Even  Pf//,  if  living,  might  with  thefe  agree  ;  * 
But  no  alliance  (hall  they  have  with  me. 

But  fince  no  fhame  forbids  your  tongue  to  own 
A  royal  coward  fills  Britannia's  throne  ; 
Since  our  beft  chiefs  muft  fight  your  mad  campaigns, 
And  be  difgrac'd,  at  laft,  by  him  who  reigns, 
No  wonder,  heaven  !  fuch  ill  fuccefs  attends  ! 
No  wonder  North  and  Mansfield  are  your  friends  ! 
Take  my  advice,  with  them  to  battle  go, 
Thefe  book-learn'd  heroes  may  confront  the  foe — 
Thofe  firft  who  lead  us  tow'rds  the  brink  of  fate, 
Should  ftill  be  foremoft,  when  at  Pluto's  gate  ; 
Let  them,  grown  defperate  by  our  weight  of  woes, 
Colled  new  fury  from  this  hoft  of  foes, 
And,  ally'd  with  themfelves,  to  ruin  fteer, 
The  juft  conclufion  of  their  mad  career. 

George. 

No  comfort  in  thefe  cruel  words  I  find — 
Ungrateful  words  to  my  tormented  mind  ! 
With  me  alone,  both  France  and  Spain  contend, 
And  not  one  nation  can  be  call'd  my  friend  : 
Unpitying  now  the  Dutchman  fees  me  fall, 
The  Ruflian  leaves  me  to  the  thundering  Gaul, 
The  German,  grown  as  carelefs  as  the  Dane, 
Configns  my  carcafe  to  the  jaws  of  Spain. 
Where  are  the  hofts  they  promis'd  me  of  yore, 
When  rich  and  great  they  heard  my  thunders  roar 


A    DIALOGUE    BETWEEN    GEORGE    AND    FOX. 

While  yet  confefs'd  the  mafter  of  the  Tea,      • 
The  Germans  drain'd  their  wide  domain  for  me, 
And,  aiding  Britain  with  a  friendly  hand, 
Help'd  to  fubdue  the  rebels  and  their  land  ? 
Ah  !  rebels,  rebels  !   infolent  and  mad  ; 

Our  Scottim  rebels  were  not  half  fo  bad 

They  foon  fubmitted  to  fuperior  fway  ; 
But  thefe  grow  ftronger  as  my  hofts  decay  : 
What  crowds  have  perim'd  on  their  hoftile  more  ! 
They  went  for  conqueft,  but  return'd  no  more. 
Columbia,  thou  a  friend  in  better  times  ! 
Loft  are  to  me  thy  pleafurable  climes  : 
You  wifh  me  buried  in  eternal  night, 
You  curfe  the  day  when  firft  I  faw  the  light — 
Your  commerce  vanifh'd,  hoftile  nations  (hare, 
And  thus  you  leave  us  naked,  poor,  and  bare  ; 
Defpis'd  by  thofe  who  mould  our  caufe  defend, 
And  helplefs  left,  without  one  pitying  friend. 
Thefe  dire  afflictions  make  my  changeful  throne, 
And  turn  my  brain — a  very  idiot  grown  : 
Of  all  the  ifles,  the  realms  with  which  I  part, 
Columbia  fits  the  weightieft  at  my  heart, 
She,  me  provokes  the  deepeft,  heavieft  figh, 
And  makes  me  doubly  wretched,  ere  I  die. 

Some  dreary  convent's  unfrequented  gloom 
(Like  Charles  of  Spain)  had  better  be  my  doom  : 
There  while  in  abfence  from  my  crown  I  figh, 
George,  Prince  of  Wales,  thefe  ills  may  rectify  ; 
A  happier  fortune  may  his  crown  await, 


76  A    DIALOGUE    BETWEEN    GEORGE    AND    FOX. 

He  yet,  perhaps,  may  fave  this  finking  ftate  : 
I'll  to  my  prayers,  my  bifhops,  and  my  beads, 
And  beg  God's  pardon  for  my  heinous  deeds  ; 
Thole  Breams  of  blood,  that  fpilt  by  my  command, 
Call  out  for  vengeance  on  this  guilty  land. 

Fox. 

In  one  fhort  fentence  take  my  whole  advice, 
(It  is  no  time  to  flatter  and  be  nice) 
With  all  your  foul  for  inftant  peace  contend, 
Thus  fhall  you  be  your  country's  trueft  friend — 
Peace,  inftant  peace,  may  ftay  your  tottering  throne, 
But  wars  and  death  and  blood  can  profit  none, 
To  Catharine  fend,  in  humble  garb  array'd, 
And  beg  her  interceflion,  not  her  aid  : 
Withdraw  your  armies  from  th'  Americ'  (bore, 
And  vex  her  oceans  with  your  fleets  no  more  ; 
Vain  are  their  conquefts,  paft  experience  (hews, 
For  what  this  hour  they  gain,  the  next  they  lofe. 
Implore  the  friendfhip  of  thofe  injur'd  States  ; 
No  longer  ftrive  againft  the  ftubborn  fates. 
Since  heaven  has  doom'd  Columbia  to  be  free, 
What  is  her  commerce  and  her  wealth  to  thee  ? 
Since  heav'n  that  land  of  promife  has  denied, 
Regain  by  cunning  what  you  loft  by  pride  : 
Immediate  ruin  each  delay  attends, 
Imperial  Britain  fcarce  her  coafts  defends  ; 
Hibernia  fees  the  threat'ning  foes  advance, 
And  feels  an  ague  at  the  thoughts  of  France  ; 


A    DIALOGUE    BETWEEN    GEORGE    AND    FOX.  77 

Jamaica  mourns  her  half-prote&ed  ftate, 
Barbadoes  foon  may  fhare  Grenada's  fate, 
And  every  ifle  that  owns  your  reign  to-day, 
May  bow  to-morrow  to  the  Frenchman's  fway, 
yes — while  I  fpeak,  your  empire,  great  before, 
Contracts  its  limits,  and  is  great  no  more. 
Unhappy  prince  !  what  madnefs  has  pofleft, 
What  worfe  than  madnefs  feiz'd  thy  vengeful  breaft, 
When  white-rob'd  peace  before  your  portal  flood, 
To  drive  her  hence,  and  ftain  the  world  with  blood  ! 
For  this  deftru&ion  threatens  from  the  fkies  ; 
See  hoftile  navies  to  our  ruin  rife  ; 
Our  fleets  inglorious  fhun  the  force  of  Spain, 
And  France,  triumphant,  ftems  the  fubject  main. 
\Anm^  1779.] 


THE     BRITISH     PRISON-SHIP.* 

Amid  thcfc  illf  no  tyrant  dared  rcfufc 
My  right  to  pen  the  diaates  of  the  mufc, 
To  paint  the  tcrron  of  the  infernal  place, 
And  fiends  from  Europe,  infolent  as  bafe. 

CANTO  I.— The  Capture. 

\  SSIST  me,  CLIO  !  while  in  verfe  I  tell 
The  dire  misfortunes  that  a  fhip  befell, 
Which  outward  bound,  to  St.  Euftatia's  (bore, 
Death  and  difafter  through  the  billows  bore. 

1   From  Philadelphia's  happy  port  fhe  came  ; 
(And  there  the  builder  plann'd  her  lofty  frame,) 
With  wonderous  (kill,  and  excellence  of  art 
He  form'd,  difpos'd,  and  order'd  every  part, 
With  joy,  beheld  the  ftately  fabric  rife 
To  a  flout  bulwark,  of  ftupendous  fize, 
'Till  launch'd  at  laft,  capacious  of  the  freight, 
He  left  her  to  the  pilots,  and  her  fate. 

Firft,  from  her  depths  the  tapering  mafts  afccnd, 
On  whofe  tall  bulk  the  tranfverfe  yards  depend, 
By  (hrouds  and  ftays  fecur'd  from  fide  to  fide 

*  Written  towards  the  clofc  of  1780,  and  firft  published   by  Mr.  Francis  Bai 
ley,  Philadelphia,  early  in  the  year  1781. 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP.  79 

Trees  grew  on  trees,  fufpended  o'er  the  tide  : 
Firm  to  the  yards  extended,  broad  and  vaft, 
They  hung  the  fails,  fufceptive  of  the  blaft, 
Far  o'er  the  prow  the  lengthy  bowfprit  lay, 
Supporting  on  the  extreme  the  taut  fore-flay, 
Twice  ten  fix  pounders,  at  their  port  holes  plac'd, 
And  rang'd  in  rows,  flood  hoflile  in  the  waifl : 
Thus  all  prepar'd,  impatient  for  the  feas, 
She  left  her  flation  with  an  adverfe  breeze, 
This  her  firfl  outfet  from  her  native  fhore, 
To  feas  a  flranger,  and  untry'd  before. 
,  From  the  fine  radiance,  that  his  glories  fpread, 
Ere  from  the  eaft  gay  Phoebus  lifts  his  head, 
From  the  bright  morn,  a  kindred  name  fhe  won, 
AURORA  call'd,  the  daughter  of  the  fun, 
Whofe  form,  projecting,  the  broad  prow  difplays, 
Far  glittering  o'er  the  wave,  a  mimic  blaze. 

The  gay  fhip  now,  in  all  her  pomp  and  pride, 
With  fails  expanded,  flew  along  the  tide  ; 
'Twas  thy  deep  flream,  O  Delaware,  that  bore 
This  pile  intended  for  a  fouthern  fhore, 
Bound  to  thofe  ifles  where  endlefs  fummer  reigns, 
Fair  fruits,  gay  bloflbms,  and  enamell'd  plains  ; 
Where  doping  lawns  the  roving  fwain  invite  ; 
And  the  cool  morn  fucceeds  the  breezy  night, 
Where  each  glad  day  a  heaven  unclouded  brings 
And  sky-topt  mountains  teem  with  golden  fprings. 

From  Cape  HENLOPEN,  urg'd  by  favouring  gales, 
When  morn  emerg'd,  we  fea-ward  fpread  our  fails, 


80  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

Then,  eaft-fouth-eaft,  explor'd  the  briny  way, 
Clofe  to  the  wind,  departing  from  the  bay  ; 
No  longer  feen  the  hoarfe  refounding  ftrand, 
With  hearts  elate  we  hurried  from  the  land, 
Efcap'd  the  dangers  of  that  (helving  ground 
To  failors  fatal,  and  for  wrecks  renown'd 

The  gale  increafes  as  we  plough  the  main, 
Now  fcarce  the  hills  their  fky-blue  mift  retain  : 
At  laft  they  fink  beneath  the  rolling  wave, 
That  feems  their  fummits,  as  they  link,  to  lave. 
Abaft  the  beam  the  freftiening  breezes  play, 
No  mifts  advancing,  to  deform  the  day, 
No  tempefts  rifing  o'er  the  fplendid  fcene, 
A  fea  unruffled,  and  a  heaven  ferene. 

Now  Soft  bright  lamp,  the  heaven-born  fource  of  light, 
Had  pafs'd  the  line  of  his  meridian  height, 
And  weftward  hung — retreating  from  the  view 
Shores  difappcar'd,  and  every  hill  withdrew, 
When,  ftill  fufpicious  of  fome  neighbouring  foe, 
Aloft  the  Mafter  bade  a  feaman  go, 
To  mark  if,  from  the  mart's  afpiring  height, 
Through  all  the  round,  a  vefTel  came  in  fight. 

Too  foon  the  feaman's  glance  extending  wide, 
Far  diftant  in  the  eaft  a  (hip  efpy'd, 
Her  lofty  mafts  flood  bending  to  the  gale, 
Clofe  to  the  wind  was  brac'd  each  (hivering  fail  ; 
Next  from  the  deck  we  faw  the  approaching  foe, 
Her  fpanglcd  bottom  feem'd  in  flames  to  glow 
When  to  the  winds  (he  bow'd  in  dreadful  hafte 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP.  8 1 

And  her  lee-guns  lay  deluged  in  the  waift  ; 

From  her  top-gallant  wav'd  an  Englifh  Jack  ; 

With  all  her  might  fhe  drove  to  gain  our  tack, 

Nor  ftrove  in  vain — with  pride  and  power  elate, 

Wing'd  on  by  winds,  fhe  drove  us  to  our  fate, 

No  flop,  no  flay  her  bloody  crew  intends, 

(So  flies  a  comet  with  its  hoft  of  fiends) 

Nor  oaths,  nor  prayers  arreft  her  fwift  career, 

Death  in  her  front,  and  ruin  in  her  rear.  4> 

Struck  at  the  fight,  the  mafler  gave  command 
To  change  our  courfe,  and  fleer  toward  the  land — 
Straight  to  the  tafk  the  ready  failors  run, 
And  while  the  word  was  utter'd,  half  was  done  ; 
As,  from  the  fouth,  the  fiercer  breezes  rife 
Swift  from  her  foe  alarm'd  AURORA  flies, 
With  every  fail  extended  to  the  wind 

She  fled  the  unequal  foe  that  chac'd  behind. 

Along  her  decks,  difpos'd  in  clofe  array, 
Each  at  its  port,  the  grim  artillery  lay, 
Soon  on  the  foe  with  brazen  throat  to  roar  ; 
But,  fmall  their  fize,  and  narrow  was  their  bore ; 
Yet,  faithful,  they  their  deftin'd  flation  keep 
To  guard  the  barque  that  wafts  them  o'er  the  deep, 
Who  now  mufl  bend  to  fleer  a  homeward  courfe 
And  truft  her  fwiftnefs  rather  than  her  force, 
Unfit  to  combat  with  a  powerful  foe  ; 
Her  decks  too  open,  and  her  waifl  too  low. 

While  o'er  the  wave,  with  foaming  prow,  fhe  flies, 
Once  more  emerging,  diftant  landfcapes  rife  ; 


82  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

High  in  the  air  the/jfarry  dreamer  plays, 
And  every  fail  its  various  tribute  pays  ; 
To  gain  the  land,  we  bore  the  weighty  blaft  ; 
And  now  the  wifh'd  for  cape  appear'd  at  laft  ; 
But  the  vcxt  foe,  impatient  of  delay, 
Prepar'd  for  ruin,  prefs'd  upon  his  prey  ; 
Near,  and  more  near,  in  aweful  grandeur  came 
The  frigate  IRIS,  not  unknown  to  fame  ; 
IRIS  her  name,  but  HANCOCK  once  (he  bore, 
Fram'd  and  completed  on  NEW  ALBION'S  fhore, 
By  MANLY  loft,  the  fwifteft  of  the  train 
That  fly  with  wings  of  canvas  o'er  the  main/* 

Then,  while  for  combat  fome  with  zeal  prepare, 
Thus  to  the  heavens  the  Boatfwain  fent  his  prayer  : 
u  Lift'  all  ye  powers  that  rule  the  fides  and  feas  ! 
u  Shower  down  perdition  on  fuch  thieves  as  thefe, 
u  Winds,  daunt  their  hearts  with  terror  and  difmay, 
"  And  fprinkle  on  their  powder  fait  fea  fpray  ! 
44  May  burfting  cannon,  while  his  aim  he  tries, 
"  Diftraft  the  gunner,  and  confound  his  eyes — 
44  The  chief  that  awes  the  quarter-deck,  may  he 
44  Tripp'd  from  his  ftand,  be  tumbled  in  the  fea. 
44  May  they  who  rule  the  round-top's  giddy  height 


*  "The  Iris  had  been  the  United  States'  fliip  Hancock,  32,  Captain  Manlv, 
and  was  captured  by  the  Rainbow,  44,  Sir  George  Collier.  The  Hancock,  or 
Iris,  proved  to  be  one  of  the  fafteft  fliips  on  the  American  ftation,  and  made  the 
fortunes  of  all  who  commanded  her.  Captain  Manly  is  thought  to  have  loft  her 
in  confequence  of  having  put  her  out  of  trim,  by  ftarting  her  water  while  chafed. 
The  (hip,  in  the  end,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  French  in  the  Weft  Indies."— 
COOPEF'S  Naval  Hijlory. 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP.  83 

"  Be  canted  headlong  to  perpetual  night  ; 

"  May  fiends  torment  them  on  a  leeward  coaft, 

"  And  help  forfake  them  when  they  want  it  moft — 

"  From  their  wheel'd  engines  torn  be  every  gun — 

"  And  now,  to  fum  up  every  curfe  in  one, 

"  May  latent  flames,  to  fave  us,  intervene, 

"  And  hell-ward  drive  them  from  their  magazine  !" 

The  Frigate,  now,  had  every  fail  unfurl'd, 
And  rufh'd  tremendous  o'er  the  watery  world  ; 
Thus  fierce  Pelides,  eager  to  deftroy, 
Chac'd  the  proud  Trojan  to  the  gates  of  Troy — 
Swift  o'er  the  waves  while,  hoftile,  they  purfue, 
As  fwiftly  from  their  fangs  AURORA  flew, 
At  length  HENLOPEN'S  cape  we  gain'd  once  more, 
And  vainly  ftrove  to  force  the  fhip  amore  ; 
Stern  fate  forbade  the  barren  more  to  gain  ; 
Denial  fad,  and  fource  of  future  pain  ! 
For  then  the  infpiring  breezes  ceas'd  to  blow, 
Loft  were  they  all,  and  fmooth'd  the  feas  below  ; 
By  the  broad  cape  becalm'd,  our  lifelefs  fails 
No  longer  fwell'd  their  bofoms  to  the  gales  ; 
The  fhip,  unable  to  purfue  her  way, 
Tumbling  about,  at  her  own  guidance  lay, 
No  more  the  helm  its  wonted  influence  lends, 
No  oars  ailift  us,  and  no  breeze  befriends  ; 
Mean  time  the  foe,  advancing  from  the  fea, 
Rang'd  her  black  cannon,  pointed  on  our  lee, 
Then  up  me  luff'd,  and  blaz'd  her  entrails  dire, 
Bearing  deftru&ion,  terror,  death,  and  fire. 


84  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

Vext  at  our  fate,  we  prim'd  a  piece,  and  then 
Return'd  the  (hot,  to  (hew  them  we  were  men. 

Dull  night  at  length  her  dufky  pinions  fpread, 
And  every  hope  to  'fcape  the  foe  was  fled, 
Clofe  to  thy  cape,  Henlopen,  though  we  prefs'd, 
We  could  not  gain  thy  defert,  dreary  breaft  ; 
Though  ruin'd  trees  befhroud  thy  barren  (hore 
With  mounds  of  fand  half  hid,  or  cover'd  o'er, 
Though  ruffian  winds  diftuib  thy  fummit  bare, 
Yet  every  hope  and  every  wifti  was  there  : 
In  vain  we  fought  to  reach  the  joylefs  ftrand, 
Fate  ftood  between,  and  barr'd  us  from  the  land. 

All  dead  becalm'd,  and  helplefs  as  we  lay, 
The  ebbing  current  forc'd  us  back  to  fea, 
While  vengeful  IRIS,  thirfting  for  our  blood, 
Flafh'd  her  red  lightnings  o'er  the  trembling  flood  ; 
At  every  flafh  a  ftorm  of  ruin  came 
'Till  our  ftiock'd  veflel  fhook  through  all  her  frame — 
Mad  for  revenge,  our  breads  with  fury  glow 
To  wreak  returns  of  vengeance  on  the  foe  ; 
Full  at  his  hull  our  pointed  guns  we  rais'd, 
His  hull  refounded  as  the  cannon  blaz'd  ; 
Through  his  broad  fails  while  fome  a  pafiage  tore, 
His  fides  re-echo'd  to  the  dreadful  roar, 
Alternate  fires  difpell'd  the  {hades  of  night— 
But  how  unequal  was  this  daring  fight  ! 
Our  ftouteft  guns  threw  but  a  fix-pound  ball, 
Twelve  pounders  from  the  foe  our  fides  did  maul ; 
And,  while  no  power  to  fave  him  intervenes, 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP.  85 

A  bullet  ftruck  our  captain  of  marines  ; 

Fierce,  though  he  bid  defiance  to  the  foe 

He  felt  his  death  and  ruin  in  the  blow, 

Headlong  he  fell,  diftra&ed  with  the  wound, 

The  deck  diftain'd,  and  heart  blood  ftreaming  round. 

Another  blaft,  as  fatal  in  its  aim 
Wing'd  by  deftru&ion,  through  our  rigging  came, 
And  aim'd  aloft,  to  cripple  in  the  fray, 
Shrouds,  ftays,  and  braces  tore  at  once  away, 
Sails,  blocks,  and  oars  in  fcatter'd  fragments  fly — 
Their  fofteft  language  was — SUBMIT,  OR  DIE. 

Repeated  cries  throughout  the  (hip  refound  ; 
Now  every  bullet  brought  a  different  wound  ; 
Twixt  wind  and  water,  one  aflail'd  the  fide  : 
Through  this  aperture  rufh'd  the  briny  tide — 
'Twas  then  the  Mafter  trembled  for  his  crew, 
And  bade  thy  fhores,  O  Delaware,  adieu  1 — • 
And  muft  we  yield  to  yon'  deftru&ive  ball, 

And  muft  our  colours  to  thefe  ruffians  fall  ! 

They  fall  ! — his  thunders  forc'd  our  ftrength  to  bend, 
The  lofty  topfails,  with*  their  yards,  defcend, 
And  the  proud  foe,  fuch  leagues  of  ocean  pafs'd, 
His  wifh  completed  in  our  woe  at  laft. 

Convey'd  to  YORK,  we  found,  at  length,  too  late, 
That  Death  was  better  than  the  prifoner's  fate, 
There  doom'd  to  famine,  fhackles,  and  defpair, 
Condemn'd  to  breathe  a  foul,  infected  air 
In  fickly  hulks,  devoted  while  we  lay, 
SuccefHve  funerals  gloom'd  each  difmal  day 


86  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

But  what  on  captives  Britifh  rage  can  do, 
Another  Canto,  friends,  (hall  let  you  know. 


CANTO  II.— The  Pnfen-Sbips.* 

THE  various  horrors  of  thefe  hulks  to  tell, 
Thefe  Prifon  Ships  where  pain  and  penance  dwell, 
Where  death  in  tenfold  vengeance  holds  his  reign, 
And  injur'd  ghofts,  yet  unaveng'd,  complain  ; 
This  be  my  talk — ungenerous^Britons,  you 
Confpire  to  murder  whom  you  can't  fubdue.— 

That  Britain's  rage  (hould  dye  our  plains  with  gore, 
And  defolation  fpread  through  every  fliore, 

None  e'er  could  doubt,  that  her  ambition  knew, 

This  was  to  rage  and  difappointment  due  ; 

But  that  thofe  legions  whom  our  foil  maintain'd, 

Who  firft  drew  breath  in  this  devoted  land, 

Like  famifh'd  wolves,  fhould  on  their  country  prey, 

*  Thefe  prifon-fliips  were  moftly  old  tranfport  vcflels,  in  which  the  Britifh 
troops  had  been  brought  to  the  city.  They  were  moored,  at  firft,  off  the  Battery, 
and  afterwards  in  the  Wallabout  Bay,  on  the  Long  Ifland  (hore.  One  of  thefe 
(hips,  the  Jerfcy,  was  an  old,  condemned  64-gun  (hip,  which  h.id  been  employed 
a;,  a  ftore-fhip.  "In  1780,"  as  we  learn  from  Mifs  Booth's  «  Hiftory  of  the  City 
of  New  York,'  "when  the  prifoners  on  board  the  Good  Hope  [another  of  thefe 
(hips]  burnt  the  veflel,  in  the  defperate  hope  of  regaining  their  liberty,  the  chief 
incendiaries  were  removed  to  the  Provoft,  and  the  remainder  transferred  to  the 
Jcrfey,  which  was  thenceforth  ufed  as  a  prifon-fliip  until  the  clofe  of  the  war, 
when  her  inmates  were  liberated,  and  (he  was  henceforth  fhunncd  by  all  as  a  neft 
of  pcftilence.  The  worms  foon  after  deftroyed  her  bottom,  and  (he  fank,  bear 
ing  with  her,  on  her  plank*,  the  names  of  thoufands  of  American  prifoners.  For 
more  than  twenty  years,  her  ribs  lay  expofed  at  low  water  j  (he  now  lies  buried 
beneath  the  United  States  Navy  Yard.*' 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP.  87 

Affiit  its  foes,  and  wreft  our  lives  away, 
This  {hocks  belief — and  bids  our  foil  difown 
Such  knaves,  fubfervient  to  a  bankrupt  throne. 
By  them  the  widow  mourns  her  partner  dead, 
Her  mangled  fons  to  darkfome  prifons  led, 
By  them — and  hence  my  keeneft  forrows  rife, 

My  friend — companion — my  Oreftes  dies 

Still  for  that  lofs  muft  wretched  I  complain, 
And  fad  Ophelia  mourn  her  lofs — in  vain  ! 

Ah  !   come  the  day  when  from  this  bleeding  fhore 
Fate  mail  remove  them,  to  return  no  more — 
To  fcorch'd  Bahama  mail  the  traitors  go 
With  grief,  and  rage,  and  unremitting  woe, 
On  burning  fands  to  walk  their  painful  round, 
And  figh  through  all  the  folitary  ground, 
Where  no  gay  flower  their  haggard  eyes  mall  fee, 
And  find  no  made — but  from  the  cyprefs  tree. 

So  much  we  fuffer'd  from  the  tribe  I  hate, 
So  near  they  fhov'd  us  to  the  brink  of  fate, 
When  two  long  months  in  thefe  dark  hulks  we  lay 
Barr'd  down  by  night,  and  fainting  all  the  day 
In  the  fierce  fervours  of  the  folar  beam, 
Cool'd  by  no  breeze  on  Hudfon's  mountain-ftream  ; 
That  not  unfung  thefe  threefcore  days  mall  fall 
To  black  oblivion  that  would  cover  all  ! 

No  mafts  or  fails  thefe  crowded  mips  adorn, 
Difmal  to  view,  neglected  and  forlorn  ; 
Here,  mighty  ills  opprefs'd  the  imprifon'd  throng, 
Dull  were  our  {lumbers,  and  our  nights  were  long 


88  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

From  morn  to  eve  along  the  decks  we  lay 
Scorch'd  into  fevers  by  the  folar  ray  ; 
No  friendly  awning  caft  a  welcome  (hade, 
Once  was  it  promis'd,  and  was  never  made  ; 
No  favours  could  thefe  fons  of  death  beftow, 
'Twas  endlefs  vengeance,  and  unceafing  woe  : 
Immortal  hatred  does  their  brcafts  engage, 
And  this  loft  empire  fwells  their  fouls  with  rage. 

Two  hulks  on  Hudfon's  ftormy  bofom  lie, 

Two,  on  the  eaft,  alarm  the  pitying  eye 

There,  the  black  SCORPION  at  her  mooring  rides, 
There,  STROMBOLO  fwings,  yielding  to  the  tides  ; 
Here,  bulky  JERSEY  fills  a  larger  fpace, 
And  HUNTER,  to  all  hofpitals  disgrace 

Thou,  SCORPION,  fatal  to  thy  crowded  throng, 
Dire  theme  of  horror  and  Plutonian  fong, 
Requir'ft  my  lay — thy  fultry  decks  I  know, 
And  all  the  torments  that  exift  below  ! 
The  briny  wave  that  Hudfon's  bofom  fills 
Drain'd  through  her  bottom  in  a  thoufand  rills  : 
Rotten  and  old,  replete  with  fighs  and  groans, 
Scarce  on  the  waters  fhe  fuftain'd  her  bones  ; 
Here,  doom'd  to  toil,  or  founder  in  the  tide, 
At  the  moift  pumps  inceflantly  we  ply'd, 
Here,  doom'd  to  ftarve,  like  famifh'd  dogs,  we  tore 
The  fcant  allowance,  that  our  tyrants  bore. 

Remembrance  fhudders  at  this  fcene  of  fears — 
Still  in  my  view  fome  tyrant  chief  appears, 
Some  bafe-born  Heflian  flave  walks  threatening  by, 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

Some  fervile  Scot,  with  murder  in  his  eye, 
Still  haunts  my  fight,  as  vainly  they  bemoan 
Rebellions  manag'd  fo  unlike  their  own  ! 
O  may  we  never  feel  the  poignant  pain 
To  live  fubjected  to  fuch  fiends  again, 
Stewards  and  Mates,  that  hoftile  Britain  bore, 
Cut  from  the  gallows  on  their  native  fhore  ; 
Their  ghaftly  looks  and  vengeance-beaming  eyes 

Still  to  my  view,  in  difmal  vifions  rife 

O  may  I  ne'er  review  thefe  dire  abodes, 

Thefe  piles  for  flaughter,  floating  on  the  floods, 

And  you,  that  o'er  the  troubled  ocean  go, 

Strike  not  your  ftandards  to  this  venom'd  foe, 

Better  the  greedy  wave  fhould  fwallow  all, 

Better  to  meet  the  death-conducting  ball, 

Better  to  deep  on  ocean's  oozy  bed, 

At  once  deftroy'd  and  number'd  with  the  dead, 

Than  thus  to  perifh  in  the  face  of  day 

Where  twice  ten  thoufand  deaths  one  death  delay. 

When  to  the  ocean  finks  the  weftern  fun, 
And  the  fcorch'd  Tories  fire  their  evening  gun, 
"  Down,  rebels,  down  !"  the  angry  Scotchmen  cry, 
"  Bafe  dogs,  defcend,  or  by  our  broad  fwords  die  !" 

Hail  dark  abode  !  what  can  with  thee  compare 

Heat,  ficknefs,  famine,  death,  and  ftagnant  air 

Pandora's  box,  from  whence  all  mifchiefs  flew, 

Here  real  found,  torments  mankind  anew  ! 

Swift  from  the  guarded  decks  we  rufh'd  along, 
And  vainly  fought  repofe,  fo  vaft  our  throng  ; 


9<D  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

Four  hundred  wretches  here,  denied  all  light, 
In  crowded  manfions  pafs  the  infernal  night, 
Some  for  a  bed  their  tatter'd  veftments  join, 
And  fome  on  chefts,  and  fome  on  floors  recline  ; 
Shut  from  the  bleflings  of  the  evening  air 
Penfive  we  lay  with  mingled  corpfes  there, 
Meagre  and  wan,  and  fcorch'd  with  heat,  below, 
We  look'd  like  ghofts,  ere  death  had  made  us  fo — 
How  could  we  elfcj  where  heat  and  hunger  join'd, 

Thus  to  debafe  the  body  and  the  mind, 

Where  cruel  thirft  the  parching  throat  invades, 
Dries  up  the  man,  and  fits  him  for  the  (hades. 

No  waters  laded  from  the  bubbling  fpring 

To  thefe  dire  (hips  thefe  little  tyrants  bring 

By  plank  and  ponderous  beams  completely  wall'd 

In  vain  for  water  and  in  vain  we  calPd 

No  drop  was  granted  to  the  midnight  prayer, 

To  rebels  in  thefe  regions  of  dcfpair  ! 

The  loathfome  cafk  a  deadly  dofe  contains, 

Its  poifon  circling  through  the  languid  veins  ; 

u  Here,  generous  Briton,  generous,  as  you  fay, 

u  To  my  parch'd  tongue  one  cooling  drop  convey, 

41  Hell  has  no  mifchicf  like  a  thirfty  throat, 

"  Nor  one  tormentor  like  your  David  Sproat."  * 

Dull  pafs'd  the  hours,  till,  from  the  Eaft  difplayed, 
Sweet  morn  difpell'd  the  horrors  of  the  {hade  ; 
On  every  fide  dire  objects  met  the  fight, 
And  pallid  forms,  and  murders  of  the  night, 

*  A  Britifh  fupcrintcndcnt  of  the  prifon-fliips. 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP.  9! 

The  dead  were  paft  their  pain,  the  living  groan, 
Nor  dare  to  hope  another  morn  their  own  ; 
But  what  to  them  is  morn's  delightful  ray  ? 
Sad  and  diftrefsful  as  the  clofe  of  day  ; 
O'er  diftant  ftreams  appears  the  dewy  green, 
And  leafy  trees  on  mountain  tops  are  feen, 
But  they  no  groves  nor  grafTy  mountains  tread, 
Mark'd  for  a  longer  journey  to  the  dead. 

Black  as  the  clouds,  that  fhade  St.  Kilda's  more,  * 
Wild  as  the  winds,  that  round  her  mountains  roar, 
At  every  poft  fome  furly  vagrant  ftands, 
CulPd  from  the  Englifh  or  the  Heflian*  bands, — 
Difpenfing  death  triumphantly  they  ftand, 
Their  mufquets  ready  to  obey  command ; 
Wounds  are  their  fport,  as  ruin  is  their  aim  ; 
On  their  dark  fouls  companion  has  no  claim, 
And  difcord  only  can  their  fpirits  pleafe  : 
Such  were  our  tyrants  here,  and  fuch  were  thefe. 

Ingratitude  !  no  curfe  like  thee  is  found 
Throughout  this  jarring  world's  tumultuous  round, 
Their  hearts  with  malice  to  our  country  fwell 
Becaufe,  in  former  days,  we  us'd  them  well  ! — 
This  pierces  deep,  too  deeply  wounds  the  breaft  ; 
We  help'd  them  naked,  friendlefs,  and  diftreft, 
Receiv'd  them,  vagrants,  with  an  open  hand  ; 
Beftow'd  them  buildings,  privilege,  and  land — 
Behold  the  change  ! — when  angry  Britain  rofe, 
Thefe  thanklefs  tribes  became  our  fierceft  foes, 

*  Scottish,  in  the  edition  of  1795. 


f)2  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

By  them  devoted,  plunder'd,  and  accurft, 

Stung  by  the  ferpents,  whom  ourfelves  had  nurs'd. 

But  fuch  a  train  of  endlefs  woes  abound, 
So  many  mifchiefs  in  thefe  hulks  are  found, 
That  on  them  all  a  poem  to  prolong 
Would  fwell  too  far  the  horrors  of  our  fong — 
Hunger  and  thirft,  to  work  our  woe,  combine, 
And  mouldy  bread,  and  flefh  of  rotten  fwine  : 
The  mangled  carcafe,  and  the  batter'd  brain, 
The  doctor's  poifon,  and  the  captain's  cane, 
The  foldier's  mufquet,  and  the  fteward's  debt, 
The  evening  (hackle,  and  the  noon-day  threat. 

That  balm,  deftruclive  to  the  pangs  of  care, 
Which  Rome  of  old,  nor  Athens  could  prepare, 
Which  gains  the  day  for  many  a  modern  chief 
When  cool  reflection  yields  a  faint  relief, 
That  chann,  whofe  virtue  warms  the  world  befide, 
Was  by  thefe  tyrants  to  our  ufe  denied  ; 
While  yet  they  deign'd  that  healthfome  balm  to  lade 
The  putrid  water  felt  its  powerful  aid, 
But  when  refus'd — to  aggravate  our  pains — 
Then  fevers  rag'd  and  revePd  through  our  veins  ; 
Throughout  my  frame  I  felt  its  deadly  heat, 
I  felt  my  pulfe  with  quicker  motions  beat  : 
A  pallid  hue  o'er  every  face  was  fpread, 
Unufual  pains  attacked  the  fainting  head  ; 
No  phyfic  here,  no  doctor  to  aflift, 
With  oaths,  they  plac'd  me  on  the  fick  man's  lift  ; 
Twelve  wretches  more  the  fame  dark  fymptoms  took, 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP.  93 

And  thefe  were  enter'd  on  the  do&or's  book  ; 

The  loathfome  HUNTER  was  our  deftin'd  place, 

The  HUNTER  to  all  hofpitals  difgrace  ; 

With  foldiers,  fent  to  guard  us  on  our  road, 

Joyful  we  left  the  SCORPION'S  dire  abode  ; 

Some  tears  we  fhed  for  the  remaining  crew, 

Then  curs'd  the  hulk,  and  from  her  fides  withdrew. 


CANTO  III.— The  Hofpital  Prifon-Skip. 

Now  tow'rds  the  HUNTER'S  gloomy  decks  we  came, 
A  flaughter-houfe,  yet  hofpital  in  name  ; 
For  none  came  there,  'till  ruin'd  with  their  fees, 

And  half  confum'd,  and  dying  of  difeafe  ; 

But  when  too  near,  with  labouring  oars  we  ply'd, 

The  Mate,  with  curfes,  drove  us  from  the  fide  ; 

That  wretch  who,  banifh'd  from  the  navy  crew, 

Grown  old  in  blood,  did  here  his  trade  renew, 

His  rancorous  tongue,  when  on  his  charge  let  loofe, 

Utter'd  reproaches,  fcandal,  and  abufe, 

Gave  all  to  hell,  who  dar'd  his  king  difown, 

And  fwore  mankind  were  made  for  George  alone. 

A  thoufand  times,  to  irritate  our  woe, 

He  wifh'd  us  founder'd  in  the  gulph  below  ; 

A  thoufand  times,  he  brandifh'd  high  his  ftick, 

And  fwore  as  often  that  we  were  not  fick 

And  yet  fo  pale  ! — that  we  were  thought  by  forrie 

A  freight  of  ghofts,  from  death's  dominions  come 

But  calm'd  at  length — for  who  can  always  rage, 


94  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

Or  the  fierce  war  of  boundlefs  paflion  wage, 

He  pointed  to  the  flairs  that  led  below 

To  damps,  difeafe,  and  varied  fhapes  of  woe — 

Down  to  the  gloom  we  took  our  penfive  way, 

Along  the  decks  the  dying  captives  lay  ; 

Some  ftruck  with  madnefs,  fome  with  fcurvy  pain'd, 

But  ftill  of  putrid  fevers  moft  complain'd  ! 

On  the  hard  floors  thefe  wafted  objecls  laid, 

There  tofs'd  and  tumbled  in  the  difmal  fhade, 

There  no  foft  voice  their  bitter  fate  bemoan'd, 

And  death  trode  ftately,  while  the  victims  groan'd  ; 

Of  leaky  decks  I  heard  them  long  complain, 

Drown'd  as  they  were  in  deluges  of  rain, 

Deny'd  the  comforts  of  a  dying  bed, 

And  not  a  pillow  to  fupport  the  head 

How  could  they  elfe  but  pine,  and  grieve,  and  figh, 
Deteft  a  wretched  life — and  wifh  to  die. 
Scarce  had  I  mingled  with  this  difmal  band 

When  a  thin  victim  feiz'd  me  by  the  hand 

"  And  art  thou  come,"  (death  heavy  on  his  eyes) 
"  And  art  thou  come  to  thefe  abodes," — (he  cries  ;) 
"  Why  didft  thou  leave  the  Scorpion's  dark  retreat, 
"  And  hither  hafte,  a  furer  death  to  meet  ? 
"  Why  didft  thou  leave  thy  damp  infe&ed  cell  ? — 

"  If  that  was  purgatory,  this  is  hell 

"  We,  too,  grown  weary  of  that  horrid  (hade 
"  Petitioned  early  for  the  do&or's  aid  ; 
u  His  aid  denied,  more  deadly  fymptoms  came, 
"  Weak,  and  yet  weaker,  glow'd  the  vital  flame  ; 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 


95 


"  And  when  difeafe  had  worn  us  down  fo  low 
"  That  few  could  tell  if  we  were  ghofls,  or  no, 

"  And  all  aflerted  death  would  be  our  fate 

"  Then  to  the  doctor  we  were  fent — too  late. 

"  Here  waftes  away  Eurymedon  the  brave, 

"  Here  young  Palemon  finds  a  watery  grave, 

"  Here  lov'd  Alcander,  now  alas  !  no  more, 

"  Dies,  far  fequefter'd  from  his  native  fhore  ; 

"  He  late,  perhaps,  too  eager  for  the  fray, 

"  Chac'd  the  proud  Briton  o'er  the  watery  way, 

"  'Till  fortune,  jealous,  bade  her  clouds  appear, 

"  Turn'd  hoftile  to  his  fame,  and  brought  him  here. 

"Thus  do  our  warriors,  thus  our  heroes  fall, 
"  Imprifon'd  here,  fure  ruin  meets  them  all, 
"  Or,  fent  afar  to  Britain's  barbarous  fhore, 
"  There  pine  neglected,  and  return  no  more  : — 
"  Ah  reft  in  peace,  each  injur'd,  parted  (hade, 
"  By  cruel  hands  in  death's  dark  weeds  array'd. 
"  The  days  to  come  fhall  to  your  memory  raife 
"  Piles  on  thefe  fhores,  to  fpread  thro'  earth  your  praife." 

From  Brooklyn  heights  a  Heffian  doctor  came, 
Not  great  his  (kill,  nor  greater  much  his  fame  ; 
Fair  Science  never  call'd  the  wretch  her  fon, 

And  Art  difdain'd  the  ftupid  man  to  own  ; 

Can  you  admire  that  Science  was  fo  coy, 

Or  Art  refus'd  his  genius  to  employ  ? 

Do  men  with  brutes  an  equal  dullnefs  (hare, 

Or  cuts  yon'  grovelling  mole  the  midway  air 

In  polar  worlds  can  Eden's  bloflbms  blow, 


96  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

Do  trees  of  God  in  barren  deferts  grow. 
Are  loaded  vines  to  Etna's  fummit  known, 

( )r  fwclls  the  peach  beneath  the  frozen  zone 

Yet  ftill  he  put  his  genius  to  the  rack 

And,  as  you  may  fuppofe,  was  own'd  a  quack. 

He  on  his  charge  the  healing  work  begun 
»  With  antimonial  mixtures,  by  the  tun, 
Ten  rninutes  was  the  time  he  deign'd  to  ftay, 

The  time  of  grace  allotted  once  a  day. 

He  drench'd  us  well  with  bitter  draughts,  'tis  true, 
Noftrums  from  hell,  and  cortex  from  Peru — 
Some  with  his  pills  he  fent  to  Pluto's  reign, 
And  fome  he  blifter'd  with  his  flies  of  Spain  ; 
His  Tartar  dofes  walk'd  their  deadly  round, 
Till  the  lean  patient  at  the  potion  frown'd 
And  fwore  that  hemlock,  death,  or  what  you  will, 
Were  nonfenfe  to  the  drugs  that  ftuff'd  his  bill. — 
On  thofe  refufing,  he  beftow'd  a  kick, 
Or  menac'd  vengeance  with  his  walking  ftick  ; — 
Here,  uncontroul'd,  he  exercis'd  his  trade, 
And  grew  experienc'd  by  the  deaths  he  made. 
By  frequent  blows  we  from  his  cane  endur'd 
He  kilPd  at  leaft  as  many  as  he  cur'd, 
On  our  loft  comrades  built  his  future  fame, 
And  fcatter'd  fate  where'er  his  footfteps  came. 

Some  did  not  bend,  fubmiflive  to  his  (kill, 
And  fwore  he  mingled  poifon  with  his  pill, 
But  I  acquit  him  by  a  fair  confeflion, 
He  was  no  Myrmidon — he  was  a  Heflian — 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP.  97 

Although  a  dunce,  he  had  fome  fenfe  of  fin 
Or  elfe  the  lord  knows  where  we  now  had  been  ; 
No  doubt,  in  that  far  country  fent  to  range 
Where  never  prifoner  meets  with  an  exchange — 
No  Gentries  ftand,  to  guard  the  midnight  pofts, 
Nor  feal  down  hatch-ways  on  a  crowd  of  ghofts. 

Knave  though  he  was,  yet  candour  muft  confefs 
Not  chief  Phyfician  was  this  man  of  Hefle — 
One  mafter  o'er  the  murdering  tribe  was  plac'd, 
By  him  the  reft  were  honour'd  or  difgrac'd  ; 
Once,  and  but  once,  by  fome  ftrange  fortune  led 
He  came  to  fee  the  dying  and  the  dead — 
He  came — but  anger  fo  deform'd  his  eye, 
And  fuch  a  faulchion  glitter'd  on  his  thigh, 
And  fuch  a  gloom  his  vifage  darken'd  o'er, 
And  two  fuch  piftols  in  his  hands  he  bore  ! 
That,  by  the  gods  ! — with  fuch  a  load  of  fteel, 
He  came,  we  thought,  to  murder,  not  to  heal — 
Rage  in  his  heart  and  mifchief  in  his  head, 
He  gloom'd  deftruclion,  and  had  fmote  us  dead, 
Had  he  fo  dar'd — but  fear  with-held  his  hand — 
He  came — blafphem'd — and  turn'd  again  to  land. 

From  this  poor  veffel,  and  her  fickly  crew 
A  Britim  feaman  all  his  titles  drew, 
Captain,  efquire,  commander,  too,  in  chief, 
And  hence  he  gain'd  his  bread,  and  hence  his  beef, 
But,  fir,  you  might  have  fearch'd  creation  round 
And  fuch  another  ruffian  not  have  found — 
Though  unprovok'd,  an  angry  face  he  bore, 
7 


98  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

All  were  aftonifh'd  at  the  oaths  he  fwore  ; 
He  fwore,  till  every  prifoner  flood  aghaft, 
And  thought  him  Satan  in  a  brimftone  blaft  ; 
He  wifh'd  us  banifh'd  from  the  public  light, 
He  wifh'd  us  fhrouded  in  perpetual  night  ! 
That  were  he  king,  no  mercy  would  he  fhow, 
But  drive  all  rebels  to  the  world  below  ; 
That  if  viz  fcoundrels  did  not  fcrub  the  decks 
His  ftaff  mould  break  our  bafe  rebellious  necks  ; — 
He  fwore,  befides,  that  mould  the  fhip  take  fire 
We  too  muft  in  the  pitchy  flames  expire  ; 
And  meant  it  fo — this  tyrant,  I  engage, 
Had  loft  his  life,  to  gratify  his  rage. — 

If  where  he  walk'd  a  murdered  carcafe  lay, 
Still  dreadful  was  the  language  of  the  day — 
He  call'd  us  dogs,  and  would  have  held  us  fo, 
But  terror  check'd  the  meditated  blow, 
Of  vengeance,  from  our  injur'd  nation  due 
To  him,  and  all  the  bafe  unmanly  crew. 

Such  food  they  fent,  to  make  complete  our  woes, 
It  look'd  like  carrion  torn  from  hungry  crows  : 
Such  vermin  vile  on  every  joint  were  feen, 
So  black,  corrupted,  mortified,  and  lean, 
That  once  we  try'd  to  move  our  flinty  chief, 
And  thus  addrefs'd  him,  holding  up  the  beef: 

"  See,  captain,  fee  !  what  rotten  bones  we  pick, 
u  What  kills  the  healthy  cannot  cure  the  fick  : 
"  Not  dogs  on  fuch  by  Cbrijlian  men  are  fed, 
"  And  fee,  good  mafter,  fee,  what  loufy  bread  !" 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP.  99 

"  Your  meat  or  bread"  (this  man  of, death  replied) 
"  'Tis  not  my  care  to  manage  or  provide — 
"  But  this,  bafe  rebel  dogs,  I'd  have  you  know, 
"  That  better  than  you  merit  we  beftow  : 
"  Out  of  my  fight  !"— nor  more  he  deign'd  to  fay 
But  whifk'd  about,  and  frowning,  ftrode  away. 

Each  day,  at  leaft  fix  carcafes  we  bore 
And  fcratch'd  them  graves  along  the  fandy  fhore. 
By  feeble  hands  the  (hallow  graves  were  made, 
No  ftone,  memorial,  o'er  the  corpfes  laid  ; 
In  barren  fands,  and  far  from  home,  they  lie, 
No  friend  to  fried  a  tear,  when  paffing  by  ; 
O'er  the  mean  tombs  the  infulting  Britons  tread, 
Spurn  at  the  fand,  and  curfe  the  rebel  dead. 

When  to  your  arms  thefe  fatal  iflands  fall, 
(For  firft,  or  laft,  they  muft  be  conquer'd  all) 
Americans  !  to  rites  fepulchral  juft, 
With  gentleft  footftep  prefs  this  kindred  duft, 
And  o'er  the  tombs,  if  tombs  can  then  be  found, 
Place  the  green  turf,  and  plant  the  myrtle  round. 

Thefe  all  in  Freedom's  facred  caufe  allied, 
For  Freedom  ventur'd  and  for  Freedom  died. 
To  bafe  fubjeclion  they  were  never  broke, 
They  could  not  bend  beneath  a  foreign  yoke  : 
Had  thefe  furvived,  perhaps  in  thraldom  held, 
To  ferve  the  Britons  they  had  been  compelled — 
Ungenerous  deed  ! — can  they  the  charge  deny  ? 
This  to  avoid  how  many  chofe  to  die. 

Americans  !  a  juft  refentment  {hew, 


1OO  THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP. 

And  glut  revenge  on  this  dctefted  foe  ; 
While  the  warm  blood  diftends  the  glowing  vein 
Still  (hall  refentment  in  your  bofoms  reign  : 
Can  you  forget  the  greedy  Briton's  ire, 
Your  fields  in  ruin,  and  your  domes  on  fire, 
No  age,  no  fex,  from  luft  and  murder  free, 
And,  black  as  night,  the  hell-born  refugee  ! 
Muft  York  forever  your  beft  blood  entomb, 
And  thefe  gorg'd  monfters  triumph  in  our  doom, 

Who  leave  no  art  of  cruelty  untry'd  ; 

Such  heavy  vengeance,  and  fuch  hcllifh  pride  ! 
Death  has  no  charms — his  realms  dejeded  lie 
In  the  dull  climate  of  a  clouded  fky, 
Death  has  no  charms,  except  in  Britifh  eyes, 
See,  arm'd  for  blood,  the  ambitious  vultures  rife, 
See  how  they  pant  to  ftain  the  world  with  gore, 
And  millions  murder'd,  ftill  would  murder  more  ; 
That  felfifh  race,  from  all  the  world  disjoined, 
Perpetual  difcord  fpread  among  mankind, 
Aim  to  extend  their  empire  o'er  the  ball, 
Subject,  deftroy,  abforb,  and  conquer  all  ; 
As  if  the  power,  that  form'd  us,  did  condemn 

All  other  nations  to  be  flaves  to  them 

Roufe  from  your  deep,  and  crufh  the  invading  band, 
Defeat,  deftroy,  and  fweep  them  from  the  land, 

Ally'd  like  you,  what  madnefs  to  defpair, 

Attack  the  ruffians  while  they  linger  there  ; 

There  Tryon  fits,  a  tyrant  all  complete, 

See  Vaughan,  there,  with  rude  Knypbaufen  meet, 


THE    BRITISH    PRISON-SHIP.  IOI 

And  every  wretch,  whom  honour  fhould  deteft 
There  finds  a  home  —  and  Arnold  with  the  reft. 

Ah  !  traitors,  loft  to  every  fenfe  of  fhame, 
Unjuft  fupporters  of  a  tyrant's  claim  ; 
Foes  to  the  rights  of  freedom  and  of  men, 
Flufh'd  with  the  blood  of  thoufands  you  have  flam, 
To  the  juft  doom  the  righteous  heavens  decree 
We  leave  you  toiling  ftill  in  cruelty, 
Or  on  dark  plans  in  future  herds  to  meet, 
Plans  form'd  in  hell,  and  proje&s  half  complete  : 
The  years  approach  that  mail  to  ruin  bring 
Your  lords,  your  chiefs,  your  defolating*  king, 
Whofe  murderous  afts  mail  ftamp  his  name  accurs'd, 
And  his  laft  efforts  more  than  damn  the  firft. 


*  "Nero  of  a  king."  —  EDITION  OF  1795. 


.CAPTAIN   JONES'S    INVITATION.* 


who  on  fome  dark  mountain's  brow 
Haft  toil'd  thy  life  away  till  now, 
And  often  from  that  rugged  fteep 
Beheld  the  vaft  extended  deep, 
Come  from  thy  foreft,  and  with  me 
Learn  what  it  is  to  go  to  fea. 

There  endlefs  plains  the  eye  furveys 
As  far  from  land  the  veflel  ftrays  ; 
No  longer  hill  nor  dale  is  feen, 
The  realms  of  death  intrude  between, 
But  fear  no  ill  ;  refolve,  with  me 
To  (hare  the  dangers  of  the  fea. 

But  look  not  there  for  verdant  fields  — 
Far  different  profpe&s  Neptune  yields  ; 
Green  feas  fhall  only  greet  the  eye, 
Thofe  feas  encircled  by  the  (ky, 
Immenfe  and  deep  —  come  then  with  me 
And  view  the  wonders  of  the  fea. 

*  From  the  edition  of  1786 


CAPTAIN    JONES  S    INVITATION.  103 

Yet  fometimes  groves  and  meadows  gay 
Delight  the  feamen  en  their  way  ; 
From  the  deep  feas  that  round  us  fwell 
With  rocks  the  furges  to  repel 
Some  verdant  ifle,  by  waves  embrac'd, 
Swells,  to  adorn  the  wat'ry  wafte. 

;." <•',•;>  vrn  .>»*';••••  $;'i-i  $f$$i  fe\*#**f&  t®V§ 

Though  now  this  vaft  expanfe  appear 
With  glafly  furface  calm  and  clear  ; 
Be  not  deceived — 'tis  but  a  fhow, 
For  many  a  corpfe  is  laid  below — 
Even  Britain's  lads — it  cannot  be — 
They  were  the  mafters  of  the  fea  ! 

Now  combating  upon  the  brine, 

Where  fhips  in  flaming  fquadrons  join, 

At  every  blaft  the  brave  expire 

'Midft  clouds  of  fmoke,  and  ftreams  of  fire  ; 

But  fcorn  all  fear  \  advance  with  me — 

'Tis  but  the  cuftom  of  the  fea. 

Now  we  the  peaceful  wave  divide, 
On  broken  furges  now  we  ride, 
Now  every  eye  diflblves  with  woe 
As  on  fome  lee-ward  coaft  we  go — 
Half  loft,  half  buried  in  the  main 
Hope  fcarcely  beams  on  life  again. 

Above  us  ftorms  diftraft  the  fky, 
Beneath  us  depths  unfathom'd  lie, 


CAPTAIN  JONES'S  INVITATION. 

Too  near  we  fee,  a  ghaftly  fight, 
The  realms  of  everlafting  night, 
A  wat'ry  tomb  of  ocean  green 
And  only  one  frail  plank  between  ! 

But  winds  muft  ceafe,  and  ftorms  decay, 
Not  always  lafts  the  gloomy  day, 
Again  the  fkies  are  warm  and  clear, 
Again  foft  zephyrs  fan  the  air, 
Again  we  find  the  long-loft  fhore, 
The  winds  oppofe  our  wifh  no  more. 

If  thou  haft  courage  to  defpife 
The  various  changes  of  the  fkies, 
To  difregard  the  ocean's  rage, 
Unmov'd  when  hoftile  (hips  engage, 
Come  from  thy  foreft,  and  with  me 
Learn  what  it  is  to  go  to  fea. 


ON   THE   MEMORABLE    VICTORY, 

Obtained  by  the  gallant  Captain  JOHN  PAUL  JONES,  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard, 
t  over  the  Scraphis,  under  the  command  of  Captain  PEARSON.* 


/^\'ER  the  rough  main,  with  flowing  fheet, 
The  guardian  of  a  numerous  fleet, 
Seraphis  from  the  Baltic  came  ; 

A  £hip  of  lefs  tremendous  force 

Sail'd  by  her  fide  the  felf-fame  courfe, 
Countefs  of  ScarUrt?  was  her  name.f 

And  now  their  native  coafts  appear, 
Britannia's  hills  their  fummits  rear 

Above  the  German  main  ; 
Fond  to  fuppofe  their  dangers  o'er, 
They  fouthward  coaft  along  the  more, 

Thy  waters,  gentle  Thames,  to  gain. 

*  Firft  published  in  Mr.  Francis  Bailey's  Freeman's  Journal,  Philadelphia, 
Auguft,  1781. 

f  This  action  was  fought  off  Flamborough  Head,  on  the  23d  of  September, 
1779.  It  has  been  often  defcribed,  and  it  is  not  required  here  to  repeat  the  de 
tails  of  the  admirable  narratives  of  Cooper  and  Mackenzie.  Few  naval  battles 
have  made  a  greater  popular  imprefiion.  Jones,  to  thjs  day,  is  a  hero  of  the  peo 
ple,  in  England  and  America.  His  hiftory  has  an  air  of  romance  and  gallantry, 
of  courage  and  adventure,  the  impreflion  of  which  is  by  no  means  diminifhed  by 
his  perfonal  vanity,  occafional  fopperies,  and  habit  of  felf-affertion.  His  ability, 
as  an  officer  and  feaman,  is  not  likely  to  be  fuccefsfully  difputed. 


IO6  THE    MEMORABLE    VICTORY. 

Full  forty  guns  Seraphis  bore, 

And  Scarb'ro's  Countefs  twenty-four, 

Mann'd  with  Old  England's  boldeft  tars- 
What  flag  that  rides  the  Gallic  feas 
Shall  dare  attack  fuch  piles  as  thefe, 

Defign'd  for  tumults  and  for  wars  ! 

Now  from  the  top-maft's  giddy  height 
A  feaman  cry'd — "  Four  fail  in  fight 

"Approach  with  favouring  gales," 
Pearfon,  refolv'd  to  fave  the  fleet, 
Stood  off  to  fea,  thefe  fhips  to  meet, 

And  clofely  brac'd  his  ftiivering  fails. 

With  him  advanced  the  Countefs  bold, 
Like  a  black  tar  in  wars  grown  old  : 

And  now  thefe  floating  piles  drew  nigh  ; 
But,  mufe,  unfold,  what  chief  of  fame 
In  the  other  warlike  fquadron  came, 

Whofe  ftandards  at  his  mast  head  fly. 

'Twas  JONES,  brave  JONES,  to  battle  led 
As  bold  a  crew  as  ever  bled 

Upon  the  fky-furrounded  main  ; 
The  ftandards  of  the  weftern  world 
Were  to  the  willing  winds  unfurl'd, 

Denying  Britain's  tyrant  reign. 

The  Good-Man-Richard  led  the  line  ; 
The  Alliance  next  :  with  thefe  combine 


THE    MEMORABLE    VICTORY.  IOJ 

The  Gallic  fhip  they  Pallas  call  ; 
The  Vengeance,  arm'd  with  fword  and  flame  ; 
Thefe  to  attack  the  Britons  came — 

But  two  accomplifh'd  all. 

Now  Phoebus  fought  his  pearly  bed  : 
But  who  can  tell  the  fcenes  of  dread, 

The  horrors  of  that  fatal  night  ! 
Clofe  up  thefe  floating  caftles  came  : 
The  Good-Man-Richard  burfts  in  flame  ; 

Seraphis  trembled  at  the  fight. 

She  felt  the  fury  of  her  ball  : 

Down,  proftrate,  down  the  Britons  fall  ; 

The  decks  were  ftrew'd  with  (lain  : 
JONES  to  the  foe  his  veflel  lafh'd  ; 
And,  while  the  black  artillery  flafh'd, 

Loud  thunders  ftiook  the  main. 

Alas  !  that  mortals  fhould  employ 
Such  murdering  engines,  to  deftroy 

That  frame  by  heaven  fo  nicely  join'd^; 
Alas  !  that  e'er  the  god  decreed 
That  brother  fhould  by  brother  bleed, 

And  pour'd  fuch  madnefs  in  the  mind. 

But  thou,  brave  JONES,  no  blame  malt  bear  ; 
The  rights  of  men  demand  your  care  : 

For  thefe  you  dare  the  greedy  waves — 


108  THE    MEMORABLE    VICTORY. 

No  tyrant,  on  deftru&ion  bent, 
Has  plann'd  thy  conquefts— thou  art  fent 
To  humble  tyrants  and  their  flaves. 

See  ! — dread  Seraphis  flames  again — 
And  art  thou,  JONES,  among  the  (lain, 

And  funk  to  Neptune's  caves*  below— 
pje  lives — though  crowds  around  him  fall, 
Still  he,  unhurt,  furvives  {hem  all  ; 

Almoft  alone  he  fights  the  foe. 

And  can  your  fhip  thefe  ftrokes  fuftain  ? 
Behold  your  brave  companions  (lain, 

All  clafp'd  in  ocean's  cold  embrace, 
STRIKE,  OR  BE  SUNK — the  Briton  cries — 
SINK  IF  YOU  CAN — the  chief  replies, 

Fierce  lightnings  blazing  in  his  face. 

Then  to  the  fide  three  guns  he  drew, 
(Almoft  deferted  by  his  crew) 

And  charg'd  them  deep  with  woe  ; 
By  Pearfon's  flafh  he  aim'd  hot  balls  ; 
His  main-maft  totters — down  it  falls 

O'erwhelming  half  below. 

Pearfon  had  yet  difdain'd  to  yield, 
But  fcarce  his  fecret  fears  conceal'd, 

And  thus  was  heard  to  cry — 
"With  hell,  not  mortals,  I  contend  ; 


THE    MEMORABLE    VICTORY. 

"  What  art  thou — human,  or  a  fiend, 
"  That  doft  my  force  defy  ? 

"  Return,  my  lads,  the  fight  renew  !" 

So  call'd  bold  Pearfon  to  his  crew  ; 

But  call'd,  alas  !   in  vain  ; 
Some  on  the  decks  lay  maim'd  and  dead  ; 
Some  to  their  deep  recefles  fled, 

And  hofts  were  (hrouded  in  the  main. 

Diftrefs'd,  forfaken,  and  alone, 

He  haul'd  his  tatter'd  ftandard  down, 

And  yielded  to  his  gallant  foe  ; 

Bold  Pallas  foon  the  Countefs  took, 

Thus  both  their  haughty  colours  ftruck, 

Confeffing  what  the  brave  can  do. 

But,  JONES,  too  dearly  didft  thou  buy 
Thefe  (hips  pofleft  fo  glorioufly, 

Too  many  deaths  difgrac'd  the  fray  ; 
Your  barque  that  bore  the  conquering  flame, 
That  the  proud  Britain  overcame, 

Even  {he  forfook  thee  on  thy  way  •, 

For  when  the  morn  began  to  mine, 
Fatal  to  her,  the  ocean  brine 

Pour'd  through  each  fpacious  wound  ; 
Quick  in  the  deep  me  difappear'd  : 
But  JONES  to  friendly  Belgia  fteer'd, 

With  conqueft  and  with  glory  crown'd. 


I  JO  THE    MEMORABLE    VICTORY. 

Go  on,  great  man,  to  fcourge  the  foe, 
And  bid  thefe  haughty  Britons  know 

They  to  our  Thirteen  Stars  (hall  bend  ; 
The  Stars  that,  veil'd  in  dark  attire, 
Long  glimmer'd  with  a  feeble  fire, 

But  radiant  now  afcend. 

Bend  to  the  Stars  that  flaming  rife 

On  weftern  worlds,  more  brilliant  fkies, 

Fair  Freedom's  reign  reftor'd 

So  when  the  Magi,  come  from  far, 
Beheld  the  God-attending  Star, 

They  trembled  and  ador'd. 


AN    ANCIENT    PROPHECY. 

TX7HEN  a  certain  great  King,  whofe  initial  is  G, 

Forces  STAMPS  upon  paper,  and  folks  to  drink  TEA  ; 
When  thefe  folks  burn  his  tea  and  ftampt  paper,  like  ftubble, — 
You  may  guefs  that  this  king  is  then  coming  to  trouble. 

But  when  a  PETITION  he  treads  under  feet, 

And  fends  over  the  ocean  an  army  and  fleet, 

When  that  army,  half  famifh'd,  and  frantic  with  rage 

Is  coop'd  up  with  a  leader,  whofe  name  rhymes  to  cage  ; 

When  that  leader  goes  home,  dejected  and  fad  ; 

You  may  then  be  affur'd  the  king's  profpe&s  are  bad. 

But  when  B.  and  C.  with  their  armies  are  taken 
This  king  will  do  well,  if  he  faves  his  own  bacon  : 
In  the  year  Seventeen  hundred  and  eighty  and  two 
A  ftroke  he  fhall  get,  that  will  make  him  look  blue  : 
And  foon,  very  foon,  mall  the  feafon  arrive, 
When  Nebuchadnezzar  to  pafture  mail  drive. 

In  the  year  eighty-three,  the  affair  will  be  over 
And  he  mail  eat  turnips  that  grow  in  Hanover : 


112  AN    ANCIENT    PROPHECY. 

The  face  of  the  Lion  will  then  become  pale, 

He  fhall  yield  fifteen  teeth,  and  be  fheer'd  of  his  tail 

(.)  king,  my  dear  king,  you  fhall  be  very  fore, 

From  the  Stan  and  the  Stripes  you  will  mercy  implore, 

And  your  Lion  (hall  growl,  but  hardly  bite  more. 


AN     ADDRESS 

TO    THE     COMMANDER    IN    CHIEF,    OFFICERS,    AND     SOLDIERS 
OF    THE    AMERICAN    ARMY. 

A  CCEPT,  great  men,  that  (hare  of  honeft  praife 

A  grateful  nation  to  your  merit  pays  : 
Verfe  is  too  mean  that  merit  to  difplay, 
And  words  too  weak  our  praifes  to  convey. 

When  firft  proud  Britain  rais'd  her  hoftile*  hand 
With  claims  unjuft  to  bind  our  native  land, 
Tranfported  armies,  and  her  millions  fpent 
To  enforce  the  mandates  that  a  tyrant  fent ; 
"  Refift  !  refift  !"  was  heard  through  every  ftate, 
You  heard  the  call,  and  fear'd  your  country's  fate  : 
Then  rifing  fierce  in  arms,  for  war  array'd, 
You  taught  to  vanquifh  thofe  who  dar'd  invade. 

Those  Britifh  chiefs  whom  former  wars  had  crown'd 
With  conqueft — and  in  every  clime  renown'd  ; 
Who  forc'd  new  realms  to  own  their  monarch's  law, 
And  whom  even  George  beheld  with  fecret  awe — 
Thofe  mighty  chiefs,  compell'd  to  fly  or  yield, 
Scarce  dar'd  to  meet  you  on  the  embattled  field  ; 

*  "Heavy." — ED.  1795. 


I  14  AN    ADDRESS    TO    THE    AMERICAN    ARMY. 

To  Bofton's  port  you  chas'd  the  trembling  crew, 
Quick,  even  from  thence  the  Britifh  veterans  flew — 
Through  wintry  waves  they  fled,  and  thought  each  wave 
Their  laft,  beft  fafety  from  a  foe  fo  brave. 

What  men,  like  you,  our  warfare  could  command, 
And  bring  us  fafely  to  the  promis'd  land  ? 
Not  fwoln  with  pride,  with  victory  elate — 
'Tis  in  misfortune  you  are  doubly  great : 
When  Howe  victorious  our  weak  armies  chas'd, 
And,  fure  of  conqueft,  laid  Cefarea  wafte, 
When  proftrate,  bleeding,  at  his  feet  (he  lay, 
And  the  proud  victor  tore  her  wreathes  away, 
Each  gallant  chief  put  forth  his  warlike  hand, 
And  rais'd  the  drooping  genius  of  the  land, 
RepelPd  the  foe,  their  choiceft  warriors  (lain, 
And  drove  them  howling  to  their  (hips  again. 

While  others  kindle  into  martial  rage 
Whom  fierce  ambition  urges  to  engage, 
An  iron  race,  by  angry  heav'n  defign'd 
To  conquer  firft,  and  then  enflave  mankind  ; 
Here,  chiefs  and  heroes  more  humane  we  fee, 
They  venture  life,  that  others  may  be  free. 

O  !   MAY  you  live  to  hail  that  glorious  day 
When  Britain  homeward  fhall  purfue  her  way — 
That  race  fubdu'd,  who  fill'd  the  world  with  (lain 
And  rode  tyrannic  o'er  the  fubjecl  main  !— 
What  few  prefum'd,  you  boldly  have  atchiev'd, 
A  tyrant  humbled,  and  a  world  relicv'd. 

O  WASHINGTON,  who  leadft  this  glorious  train, 


AN    ADDRESS    TO    THE    AMERICAN    ARMY. 

Still  may  the  fates  thy  valued  life  maintain — 
Rome's  boafted  chiefs,  who,  to  their  own  difgrace, 
Prov'd  the  worft  fcourges  of  the  human  race, 
Pierc'd  by  whofe  darts  a  thoufand  nations  bled, 
Who  captive  princes  at  their  chariots  led  ; 
Born  to  enflave,  to  ravage,  and  fubdue — 
Return  to  nothing,  when  compar'd  to  you  ; 
Throughout  the  world  your  growing  fame  has  fpread, 
In  every  country  are  your  virtues  read  ; 
Remoteft  India  hears  your  deeds  of  fame, 
The  hardy  Scythian  ftammers  at  your  name  ; 
The  haughty  Turk,  now  longing  to  be  free, 
Negle&s  his  Sultan  to  enquire  of  thee  ; 
The  barbarous  Briton  hails  you  to  his  fhores, 
And  calls  him  Rebel — whom  his  heart  adores. 

Still  may  the  heavens  prolong  your  vital  date, 
And  ftill  may  conqueft  on  your  banners  wait : 
Whether  afar  to  ravag'd  lands  you  go, 
Where  wild  Potowmac's  rapid  waters  flow, 
Or  where  Saluda  laves  the  fertile  plain 
And,  fwoln  by  torrents,  rufhes  to  the  main  ; 
Or  if  again  to  Hudfon  you  repair 
To  fmite  the  cruel  foe  that  lingers  there — 
Revenge  their  caufe,  whofe  virtue  was  their  crime, 
The  exil'd  hofts  from  Carolina's  clime. 

Late  from  the  world,  in  quiet  may'ft  thou  rife 
And,  mourn'd  by  millions,  reach  your  native  Ikies — 
With  patriot  kings  and  generous  chiefs  to  mine, 
Whofe  virtues  rais'd  them  to  be  deem'd  divine  : 


Il6  AN    ADDRESS    TO    THE    AMERICAN    ARMY. 

May  VASA*  only  equal  honours  claim, 
Alike  in  merits,  and  alike  in  fame  ! 
[Anno,  1781.] 

*  GarrAvus  VASA,  of  Sweden,  the  deliverer  of  his  country. 


A    NEW    YORK    TORY, 

TO     HIS     FRIEND     IN     PHILADELPHIA. 

T"\EAR  Sir,  I'm  fo  anxious  to  hear  of  your  health, 

I  beg  you  would  fend  me  a  letter  by  ftealth  : 
I  hope  a  few  months  will  quite  alter  the  cafe, 
When  the  wars  are  concluded,  we'll  meet  and  embrace. 

For  Pm  led  to  believe  from  our  brilliant  fuccefs, 
And,  what  is  as  clear,  your  amazing  diftrefs, 
That  the  caufe  of  rebellion  has  met  with  a  check 
That  will  bring  all  its  patrons  to  hang  by  the  neck. 

Cornwallis  has  manag'd  fo  well  in  the  South, 
Thofe  rebels  want  victuals  to  put  in  their  mouth  ; 
And  Arnold  has  ftript  them,  we  hear,  to  the  buff — 
Has  burnt  their  tobacco,  and  left  them — the  fnuff. 

Dear  Thomas,  I  wifh  you  would  move  from  that  town 
Where  meet  all  the  rebels  of  fame  and  renown  ; 
When  our  armies,  victorious,  (hall  clear  that  vile  ncft 
You  may  chance,  though  a  Tory,  to  fwing  with  the  reft. 


Il8  A    NEW    YORK    TORY. 

But  again — on  reflection — I  beg  you  would  ftay — 
You  may  ferve  us  yet  better  than  if  mov'd  away — 
Give  advice  to  Sir  HARRY  of  all  that  is  pafling, 
What  veffels  are  building,  what  cargoes  amafling  ; 

Inform,  to  a  day,  when  thofe  veflels  will  fail, 
That  our  cruifers  may  capture  them  all,  without  fail — 
By  proceedings,  like  thefe,  your  peace  (hall  be  made, 
The  rebellious  fhall  fwing,  but  be  you  ne'er  afraid. 

I  cannot  conceive  how  you  do  to  fubfift — 

The  rebels  are  ftarving,  except  thofe  who  'lift  ; 

And  as  you  refide  in  the  land  of  Gomorrah, 

You  muft  fare  as  the  reft  do,  I  think,  to  your  forrow. 

Poor  fouls  !  if  ye  knew  what  a  doom  is  decreed, 

(I  mean  not  for  you,  but  for  rebels  indeed) 

You  would  tremble  to  think  of  the  vengeance  in  ftore, 

The  halters  and  gibbets — I  mention  no  more. 

The  rebels  muft  furely  conclude  they're  undone, 
Their  navy  is  ruin'd,  their  armies  have  run  ; 
It  is  time  they  (hould  now  from  delufion  awaken — 
The  rebellion  is  done — for  the  TRUMBULL'*  is  taken  ! 


*  The  American  frigate  Trumbull,  ao,  Captain  James  Nicholfon,  was  chafed 
off  the  cape*  of  the  Delaware,  Auguft  8th,  1781,  by  three  Britifli  cruifers.  As  it 
was  blowing  heavily  towards  night,  the  fore-topmaft  of  the  Trumbull  was  carried 
away  by  a  fquall,  bringing  down  with  it,  on  deck,  the  main-topgallant  maft. 
About  ten  o'clock  at  night,  one  of  the  Britifli  vertels,  the  Iris,  31,  came  up  and 
clofcd  with  her  while  ftill  encumbered  with  the  wreck.  "  In  the  midft  of  rain 


A    NEW    YORK    TORY.  119 

and  fqualls,  in  a  tempeftuous  night,  with  moft  of  the  forward  hamper  of  the  {hip 
over  her  bows,  or  lying  on  the  forecaftle,  with  one  of  the  arms  of  the  fore-topfail 
yard  run  through  her  fore-fail,  and  the  other  jammed  on  deck,  and  with  a  difor- 
ganized  crew,  Captain  Nicholfon  found  himfelf  compelled  to  go  to  quarters,  or  to 
ftrike  without  refiftance.  He  preferred  the  firft ;  but  the  Englifh  volunteers,  in- 
ftead  of  obeying  orders,  went  below,  extinguished  the  lights,  and  fecreted  them- 
felves.  Near  half  of  the  remainder  of  the  people  imitated  this  example,  and 
C.iptain  Nicholfon  could  not  mufter  fifty  of  even  the  diminished  crew  he  had, 
at  the  guns.  The  battle  that  followed  might  almoft  be  faid  to  have  been  fought 
by  the  officers.  Thefe  brave  men,  fuftained  by  a  party  of  the  petty  officers  and 
feamen,  managed  a  few  of  the  guns  for  more  than  an  hour,  when  the  General 
Monk,  1 8,  coming  up  and  joining  in  the  fire  of  the  Iris,  the  Trumbull  fubmit- 
ted." — COOPER'S  Naval  Hijiory. 


TO     LORD     CORNWALLIS, 

AT    YORK,    VIRGINIA.* 

"LTAIL,  great  deftroyer  (equall'd  yet  by  none) 

Of  countries  not  your  mailer's,  nor  your  own  ; 
Hatch'd  by  fome  demon  on  a  ftormy  day, 
Satan's  beft  fubftitute  to  burn  and  flay  ; 
Confin'd  at  laft  ;  hem'd  in  by  land  and  fea, 
Burgoyne  himfelf  was  but  a  type  of  thee  ! 

Like  his,  to  freedom  was  your  deadly  hate, 
Like  his  your  bafcnefs,  and  be  his  your  fate  : 
To  you,  like  him,  no  profpeft  Nature  yields 
But  ruin'd  waftes  and  defolated  fields — 
In  vain  you  raife  the  interpofmg  wall, 
And  hoift  thofe  ftandards  that,  like  you,  muft  fall, 

*  Charles,  M.irquis  of  Cornwallis,  came  to  New  York  with  his  regiment  in 
1776.  After  ferving  for  a  whilr  as  Major-General  in  the  campaigns  in  the 
Jerfeys,  he  was  engaged  in  the  expedition  to  the  Chefapeake,  and  fubfequently, 
in  1780,  in  the  fiege  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  which  ended  in  its  furrcnder.  Left  in 
command  in  the  State,  he  fought  the  battles  of  Camden  and  Guilford,  making 
his  way  northerly,  with  his  army,  through  the  Carolinas  to  Virginia,  where  he 
maintained  himfelf  in  a  fortified  pofition,  at  Yorktown,  till  he  was  compelled  to 
furrendcr  to  Washington,  in  October,  1781.  Cornwallis  was  at  this  time  at  the 
age  of  forty-three.  His  fubfequcnt  career,  in  India,  was  diftinguiftied.  He  was 
in  1798  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland.  In  1805  he  was  lent  to  India,  as  Gov 
ernor-General,  and  died  Shortly  after  his  arrival  at  Calcutta. 


TO    LORD    CORNWALLIS.  121 

In  you  conclude  the  glories  of  your  race, 
Complete  your  monarch's,  and  your  own  difgrace. 

What  has  your  lordfhip's  pilfering  arms  attain'd  ? — 
Vaft  ftores  of  plunder,  but  no  STATE  regain'd— 
That  may  return,  though  you  perhaps  may  groan. 
Reftore  it,  CHARLEY,  for  'tis  not  your  own — 
Then,  lord  and  foldier,  headlong  to  the  brine 
Rufh  down  at  once — the  devil  and  the  fwine. 

Would' ft  thou  at  laft  with  Wajbington  engage, 
Sad  objecl:  of  his  pity,  not  his  rage  ? 
See,  round  thy  pofts  how  terribly  advance 
The  chiefs,  the  armies,  and  the  fleets  of  France  ; 
Fight  while  you  can,  for  warlike  Rocbambeau 
Aims  at  your  head  his  laft  decifive  blow  ; 
Unnumber'd  ghofts  from  earth  untimely  fped, 
Can  take  no  reft  till  you,  like  them,  are  dead — 
Then  die,  my  Lord  ;  that  only  chance  remains 
To  wipe  away  difhonourable  ftains, 
For  fmall  advantage  would  your  capture  bring, 
The  plundering  fervant  of  a  bankrupt  king. 
[October  8.  1781.] 


A     LONDON     DIALOGUE, 

BETWEEN    MY    LORDS,    DUNMORE    AND    GERMAINE. 

Dunmore. 

T^VER  fince  I  return'd  to  my  dear  native  (hore, 

No  poet  in  Grubftreet  was  ever  dunn'd  more — 
I'm  dunn'd  by  my  barber,  my  taylor,  my  groom  ; 
How  can  I  do  elfe  than  to  fret  and  to  fume  ? 
They  join  to  attack  me  with  one  good  accord, 
From  morning  'till  night  'tis  "  my  lord,  and  my  lord." 
And  there  comes  the  cobler,  fo  often  deny'd — 
If  I  had  him  in  private,  I'd  threfh  his  tough  hide. 

Germaine. 

Would  you  worry  the  man  that  has  found  you  in  (hoes  ? 

Come,  courage,  my  lord,  I  can  tell  you  good  news — 

Virginia  is  conquered,  the  rebels  are  bang'd, 

You  are  now  to  go  over  and  fee  them  fafe  hang'd  : 

I  hope  it  is  not  to  your  nature  abhorrent 

To  fign  for  thefe  wretches  a  handfome  death  warrant — 

Were  I  but  in  your  place,  I'm  fure  it  would  fuit 

To  fign  their  death  warrants,  and  hang  them  to  boot. 


A    LONDON    DIALOGUE. 


Dunmore. 

My  lord  ! — I'm  amaz'd — have  we  routed  the  foe  ? — 
I  mall  govern  again  then,  if  matters  be  fo — 
And  as  to  the  hanging,  in  fhort,  to  be  plain, 
I'll  hang  them  fo  well,  they'll  ne'er  want  it  again. 
With  regard  to  the  wretches  who  thump  at  my  gates, 
I'll  difcharge  all  their  dues  with  the  rebel  eftates  ; 
In  lefs  than  three  months  I  mail  fend  a  polacca 
As  deep  as  fhe'll  fwim,  fir,  with  corn  and  tobacco. 

Germaine. 

And  fend  us  fome  rebels — a  dozen  or  fo — 

They'll  ferve  here  in  London  by  way  of  a  mow  ; 

And  as  to  the  Tories,  believe  me  dear  coufin, 

We  can  fpare  you  fome  hundreds  to  pay  for  the  dozen, 


LORD  CORNWALLIS  TO  SIR  HENRY  CLINTON. 

FROM    YORK,    VIRGINIA. 

T^ROM  clouds  of  fmoke,  and  flames  that  round  me  glow, 

To  you,  dear  Clinton,  I  difclofe  my  woe. 
Here  cannons  flafh,  bombs  glance,  and  bullets  fly  ; 
Not  ARNOLD'S  felf  endures  fuch  mifery. 
Was  I  foredoom'd  in  tortures  to  expire, 
Hurl'd  to  perdition  in  a  blaze  of  fire  ? 
With  thefe  blue  flames  can  mortal  man  contend — 
What  arms  can  aid  me,  or  what  walls  defend  ? 
Even  to  thefe  gates  laft  night  a  phantom  ftrode, 
And  haiPd  me  trembling  to  his  dark  abode  : 
Aghaft  I  ftood,  ftruck  motionlefs  and  dumb, 
Seiz'd  with  the  horrors  of  the  world  to  come. 
Were  but  my  power  as  mighty  as  my  rage, 
Far  different  battles  would  Cornwallis  wage, 
Beneath  his  fword  yon'  threat'ning  hofts  fhould  groan, 
The  earth  fhould  quake  with  thunders  all  his  own. 
O  crocodile  !  had  I  thy  flinty  hide, 
Swords  to  defy,  and  glance  the  balls  afidc, 
By  my  own  prowefs  would  I  rout  the  foe, 
With  my  own  javelin  would  I  work  their  woe — 


LORD    CORNWALLIS    TO    SIR    HENRY    CLINTON.  125 

But  fates  averfe,  by  heaven's  fupreme  decree, 
Nile's  ferpent  form'd  more  excellent  than  me. 

Has  heaven,  in  fecret,  for  fome  crime  decreed 
That  I  mould  fuffer,  and  my  foldiers  bleed  ? 
Or  is  it  by  the  jealous  fkies  conceal'd, 
That  I  muft  bend,  and  they  ignobly  yield  ? 
Ah  !  no — the  thought  o'erwhelms  my  foul  with  grief, 
Come,  bold  fir  Harry,  come  to  my  relief ; 
Come,  thou  brave  man,  whom  rebels  Tomb/lone  call, 
But  Britons,  Graves — come  Digby,  devil,  and  all  ; 
Come,  princely  WILLIAM,  with  thy  potent  aid, 
Can  George's  blood  by  Frenchmen  be  difmay'd  ? 
From  a  king's  uncle  once  Scotch  rebels  run, 
And  mall  not  thefe  be  routed  by  a  fan  ? 
Come  with  your  mips  to  this  difaft'rous  more, 
Come — or  I  fink — and  fink  to  rife  no  more. 
By  every  motive  that  can  fway  the  brave 
Hafte,  and  my  feeble,  fainting  army  fave  ; 
Come,  and  loft  empire  o'er  the  deep  regain, 
Chaftife  thefe  upftarts  that  ufurp  the  main  : 
I  fee  their  firft  rates  to  the  charge  advance, 
I  fee  loft  Iris  wear  the  flags  of  France  ;* 
There  a  ftricl:  rule  the  wakeful  Frenchman  keeps. 
There,  on  no  bed  of  down,  lord  Rawdon  deeps  f 

Tir'd  with  long  acting  on  this  bloody  ftage, 
Sick  of  the  follies  of  a  wrangling  age, 
Come  with  your  fleet,  and  help  me  to  retire 

*  Note  ante,  page  8  a. 


126          LORD    CORNWALLIS    To    Mit    KENRY    CLINTON. 

To  Britain's  coaft,  the  land  of  my  defire— 
For,  me  the  foe  their  certain  captive  deem, 
And  every  trifler  takes  me  for  his  theme — 
Long,  much  too  long,  in  this  hard  fervice  try'd, 
Befpatter'd  ftill,  bedeviPd,  and  bely'd  ; 
With  the  firft  chance  that  favouring  fortune  fends 
I'll  fly,  converted,  from  this  land  of  fiends, 
Convinc'd,  for  me,  (he  has  no  gems  in  ftore, 
Nor  leaves  one  triumph,  even  to  hope  for,  more. 

[.78,.] 


ON  THE  FALL  OF  GENERAL  EARL  CORNWALLIS, 

Who,  with  about  feven  thoufand  Men,  furrendered  themfelves  prifoners  of  war, 
to  the  Allied  Armies  of  AMERICA  and  FRANCE,  on  the  memorable  io,th  of 
Oftober,  1781. 

"  One  brilliant  game  our  arms  have  won  to-day, 
Another,  Princes,  yet  remains  to  play  ; 
Another  mark  our  arrows  muft  attain — 
Gallia*  affiil ! — nor  be  our  efforts  vain." 

Horn.  OdyJTey,  Book  xxii. 

A    CHIEFTAIN,  form'd  on  Howe,  Burgoyne,  and  Gage, 

Once  more,  nor  this  the  laft,  provokes  my  rage — 
Who  saw  thefe  Nimrods  firft  for  conqueft  burn  ! 
Who  has  not  feen  them  to  the  duft  return  ? 
This  conqueror  next,  who  ravag'd  all  our  fields, 
Foe  to  the  Rights  of  Man,  Cornwallis  yields  ! — 
None  e'er  before  eftay'd  fuch  defperate  crimes, 
Alone  he  flood,  arch-butcher  of  the  times, 
Rov'd,  uncontroul'd,  this  wafted  country  o'er, 
Strew'd  plains  with  dead,  and  bath'd  his  jaws  with  gore. 

'Twas  thus  the  wolf,  who  fought  by  night  his  prey, 
And  plunder'd  all  he  met  with  on  his  way, 
Stole  what  he  could,  and  murder'd  as  he  pafs'd, 
Chanc'd  on  a  trap,  and  loft  his  head  at  laft. 

*  In  the  original, — "  Phoebus  afiift  ! — nor  be  the  labour  vain." — Authors  Note. 


128       FALL  OF  GENERAL  EARL  CORNWALLIS. 

What  pen  can  write,  what  human  tongue  declare 
The  endlefs  murders  of  this  LORD  OF  WAR  ! 
Nature  in  him  difgrac'd  the  form  divine  ; 
Nature  miflook,  (he  meant  him  for  a — fwine  : 
That  eye  his  forehead,  to  her  fhame,  adorns  ; 
Blufti !   Nature,  blufli — beftow  him  tail  and  horns  !— 
By  him  the  orphan  mourns — the  widow'd  dame 
Saw  ruin  fpreading  in  the  wafteful  flame  ; 
Gafh'd  o'er  with  wounds,  beheld  with  ftreaming  eye 

A  fon,  a  brother,  or  a  confort,  die  ! 

Through  ruin'd  realms  bones  lie  without  a  tomb, 
And  fouls  he  fped  to  their  eternal  doom, 
Who  elfe  had  liv'd,  and  feen  their  toils  again 
Blefs'd  by  the  genius  of  the  rural  reign. 

Convinc'd  we  are,  no  foreign  fpot  of  earth 
But  Britain  only,  gave  this  warrior  birth  : 
That  white-clifPd  ifle,  the  vengeful  tyrants'  den, 
Has  fent  us  monfters,  where  we  look'd  for  men. 
When  memory  paints  their  horrid  deeds  anew, 
And  brings  thefe  murdering  mifcreants  to  our  view, 
We  afk  the  leaders  of  thefe  bloody  bands, 
Can  they  expect  compaflion  at  our  hands  ? — 

But  may  this  year,  the  glorious  EIGHTY-ONE, 
Conclude  fuccefsful,  and  all  wars  be  done  ; 
This  brilliant  year  their  total  downfall  fee, 
And  what  Cornwallis  ;V,  Sir  HENRY*  be. 

O  come  the  time,  nor  diftant  be  the  day, 

*  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 


FALL  OF  GENERAL  EARL  CORNWALLIS.        1 

When  our  fwift  navy  fhall  its  wings  difplay  ; 
Mann'd  by  brave  fouls,  to  feek  the  Britifh  fhore, 
The  wrongs  revenging  that  their  fathers  bore  : 
As  earthquakes  fhook  the  huge  COLOSSUS  down, 
So  fhake  the  wearer  of  the  Britifh  crown  ; 
Unpitying  next  his  hated  offspring  flay, 
Or  into  foreign  lands  by  force  convey : 
Give  them  their  turn  to  pine  and  die  in  chains, 
'Till,  not  one  tyrant  of  the  race  remains. 

Thou,  who  refideft  on  thofe  thrice  happy  fhores, 
Where  white-rob'd  peace  her  envied  bleffings  pours, 
Stay,  and  enjoy  the  pleafures  that  fhe  yields  ; 
But  come  not,  ftranger,  to  our  wafted  fields, 
For  warlike  hofts  on  every  plain  appear, 
War  damps  the  beauties  of  the  rifing  year : 
In  vain  the  groves  their  bloomy  fweets  difplay  ; 
War's  clouded  winter  chills  the  charms  of  May  : 
Here  human  blood  the  trampled  harveft  ftains  ; 
Here  bones  of  men  yet  whiten  all  the  plains  ; 
Seas  teem  with  dead  ;  and  our  unhappy  fhore 
Forever  blufhes  with  its  children's  gore. 

But  turn  your  eyes — behold  the  tyrant  fall, 
Nor  fay — Cornwallis  has  achiev'd  it  all. — 

All  mean  revenge  AMERICANS  difdain, 
Oft  have  they  prov'd  it,  and  now  prove  again  ; 
With  nobler  fires  their  generous  bofoms  glow ; 
Still  in  the  captive  they  forget  the  foe  : — 
But  when  a  nation  takes  a  wrongful  caufe, 
And  hoftile  turns  to  heaven's  and  nature's  laws  ; 
9 


130       FALL  OF  GENERAL  EARL  CORNWALLIS. 

When,  facrificing  at  ambition's  fhrine, 

Kings  flight  the  mandates  of  the  power  divine, 

And  devaluation  fpread  on  every  fide, 

To  gratify  their  malice  or  their  pride, 

And  fend  their  flaves  their  proje&s  to  fulfil, 

To  wreft  our  freedom,  or  our  blood  to  fpill  :— 

Such  to  forgive,  is  virtue  too  fublime  ; 

For,  even  compaflion  has  been  found  a  crime. 

A  prophet  once,  for  miracles  renown'd, 
Bade  Joajh  fmite  the  arrows  on  the  ground- 
Taking  the  myftic  (hafts,  the  prince  obey'd, 
Thrice  fmote  them  on  the  earth — and  then  he  ftay'd — 

Griev'd  when  he  faw  full  victory  deny'd, 
"  Six  times  you  fhould  have  fmotc,"  the  prophet  cry'd, 
"  Then  had  proud  Syria  funk  beneath  your  power  ; — 
"  Now  thrice  you  fmite  her — but  (hall  fmite  no  more." 

Cornwallis  !  thou  art  rank'd  among  the  great ; 
Such  was  the  will  of  all-controuling  fate. 
As  mighty  men,  who  liv'd  in  days  of  yore, 
Were  figur'd  out  fome  centuries  before  ; 
So  you  with  them  in  equal  honour  join, 
Your  great  precurfor's  name  was  Jack  Burgoyne  ! 
Like  you  was  he,  a  man  in  arms  renown'd, 
Who,  hot  for  conqueft,  fail'd  the  ocean  round  ; 
This,  this  was  he,  who  fcour'd  the  woods  for  praife, 
And  burnt  down  cities  to  defcribe  the  bla/c  ! 

So,  while  on  fire,  his  harp  Rome's  tyrant  ftrung, 
And  as  the  buildings  flam'd,  old  Nero  fung. 

Who  could  have  guefs'd  the  purpofc  of  the  fates, 


FALL  OF  GENERAL  EARL  CORNWALLIS.       1 

When  that  vain  boajier  bow'd  to  conquering  GATES  ! 

Then  fung  the  fitters  as  the  wheel  went  round, 

(Could  we  have  heard  the  invigorating  found) 

Thus  furely  did  the  fatal  fitters  fing — 

"  When  jutt  four  years  do  this  fame  feafon  bring, 

"  And  in  his  annual  journey,  when  the  fun 

"  Four  times  completely  (hall  his  circuit  run, 

cc  An  Angel  then  (hall  rid  you  of  your  fears, 

"  By  binding  Satan*  for  a  thoufand  years, 

u  Shall  lafli  his  godfhip  to  the  infernal  fhore, 

u  To  watte  the  nations,  and  deceive  no  more  ; 

"  Make  wars,  and  blood,  and  tyranny  to  ceafe, 

"  And  hufh  the  rage  of  Europe  into  peace." 

Joy  to  your  lordfhip,  and  your  high  defcent,      • 
You  are  the  Satan  that  thzfifters  meant. 
Too  foon  you  found  your  race  of  ruin  run, 
Your  conquetts  ended,  and  your  battles  done  ! 
But  that  to  live  is  better  than  to  die, 
And  life  you  chofe,  though  life  with  infamy, 
You  fhould  have  climb'd  your  loftieft  veffePs  matt, 
Took  one  fad  furvey  of  your  wanton  watte, 
Then  plung'd  forever  to  the  wat'ry  bed, 
Loft  all  your  honours — even  your  memory  dead. 

Afham'd  to  live,  and  yet  afraij  to  die, 
Your  courage  flacken'd  as  your  foe  drew  nigh — 
Ungrateful  chief,  to  yield  your  favorite  band 
To  chains  and  prifons,  in  a  hoftile  land : 

*  "Pluto." — ED.  1795. 


FALL  OF  GENERAL  EARL  CORNWALLIS. 

To  the  wide  world  your  Negro  friends  to  caft, 
And  leave  your  Tories  to  be  hang'd  at  laft  !— 
You  fhould  have  fought  with  horror  and  amaze, 
'Till  fcorch'd  to  cinders  in  the  cannon  blaze, 
'Till  all  your  hoft  of  Gog-magogs  was  (lain, 
Doom'd  to  difgrace  no  human  fhape  again— 
From  depths  of  woods  this  hornet  hoft  he  drew — 
Swift  from  the  fouth  the  envenom'd  ruffians  flew  ; — 
Deftruclion  follow'd  at  their  cloven  feet, 
'Till  you,  Fayette,  conftrain'd  them  to  retreat, 
And  held  them  clofe,  'till  thy  fam'd  fquadron  came, 
DE  GRASSE,  completing  their  eternal  mame. 

When  the  loud  cannon's  unremitting  glare, 
And  red  hot  balls  compell'd  you  to  defpair, 
How  could  you  ftand  to  meet  your  generous  foe  ? 
Did  not  the  fight  confound  with  rage  and  woe  ?— 
In  thy  great  foul  what  god-like  virtues  fhine, 
What  inborn  greatnefs,  WASHINGTON,  is  thine  ! — 
Elfe  had  no  prifoner  trod  thefe  lands  to-day, 
All,  with  his  lordfliip,  had  been  fwept  away, 
All  doom'd  alike  death's  vermin  to  regale, 
Nor  one  been  left  to  tell  the  dreadful  tale  ! 
But  his  own  terms  the  mean  invader  nam'd — 
HE  nobly  gave  the  prifoner  all  he  claim'd, 
And  bade  Cornwallis,  conquer'd  and  diftrefs'd, 
Bear  all  his  torments  in  one  tortur'd  breaft. 

Now  curft  with  life,  a  foe  to  man  and  God, 
Like  Cain,  we  drive  you  to  the  land  of  AW: 
He  with  a  brother's  blood  his  hands  did  ftain, 


FALL  OF  GENERAL  EARL  CORNWALLIS.       133 

One  brother  he — you  have  a  thoufand  {lain. 
On  eagles'  wings  explore  your  homeward  flight, 
Plan  future  conquefts,  and  new  battles  fight  : 
Such  horrid  deeds  your  murdering  hoft  defame 
We  grieve  to  think  their  form,  and  ours,  the  fame : 
Remorfe  be  theirs  ! — even  you,  though  much  too  late, 
Shall  curse  the  day  you  languifh'd  to  be  great : 
And,  may  destruction  rufh,  with  fpeedy  wing, 
Low  as  yourfelf,  to  drag  each  tyrant  king  ; 
Swept  from  this  ftage,  the  race  that  vex  our  ball, 
Deep  in  the  duft  may  every  monarch  fall, 
To  wafted  nations  bid  a  long  adieu, 
Shrink  from  an  injur'd  world — and  fare  like  YOU. 


TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  THE  BRAVE  AMERICANS, 

Under  General  GKEENE,  in  South  Carolina,  who  fell  in  the  action  of  September 

8,  1781  * 

A  T  EUTAW  Springs  the  valiant  died  : 

Their  limbs  with  duft  are  cover'd  o'er — 
Weep  on,  ye  fprings,  your  tearful  tide  j 
How  many  heroes  are  no  more  ! 

If  in  this  wreck  of  ruin,  they 

Can  yet  be  thought  to  claim  a  tear, 

O  fmite  thy  gentle  breaft,  and  fay 

The  friends  of  freedom  (lumber  here  ! 

*  The  battle  ofEutaw  Springs  was  one  of  the  bcft  conteftcd  fields  cf  the  Rev 
olution.  Both  fides  fought  with  extraordinary  heroifm.  General  Greene  was  in 
command  of  the  Americans,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stuart  of  the  Britifli,  in  this 
engagement.  Greene  had  about  two  thoufand  men  in  the  field,  and  the  ftrcngth 
of  the  enemy  was  about  the  fame.  The  battle  Lifted  nearly  four  hours  j  the 
bayonet  was  freely  ufed.  The  lofs  on  both  fides  was  extraordinary  for  the  num 
bers  engaged.  "  Never,"  wrote  General  Greene  of  his  army,  in  a  letter  to  Con- 
grefs,  "did  men  and  officers  offer  their  blood  more  willingly  in  the  fervice  of 
their  country."  The  advantage  was,  at  firft,  with  the  Americans,  and  afterwards 
with  the  Britifli.  Both  fides  claimed  the  victory.  "The  truth  feems  to  be," 
fays  Chief-Juftice  Marshall,  in  his  "Life  of  Wa/hington,"  "  that,  unconnected 
with  its  confluences,  the  fortune  of  the  day  was  nearly  balanced.  But,  if  the 
confequences  be  taken  into  the  account,  the  victory  unqu:ftionably  belonged  to 
Greene.  The  refult  was  the  expulfion  of  the  hoftilc  army  fiom  the  territory, 
which  wai  the  immediate  object  of  contcft.*' 


TO    THE    MEMORY    OF    THE    BRAVE    AMERICANS.         135 

Thou,  who  (halt  trace  this  bloody  plain, 
If  goodnefs  rules  thy  generous  breaft, 

Sigh  for  the  wafted  rural  reign  ; 

Sigh  for  the  (hepherds,  funk  to  reft  ! 

Stranger,  their  humble  graves  adorn  ; 

You  too  may  fall,  and  alk  a  tear  ; 
JTis  not  the  beauty  of  the  morn 

That  proves  the  evening  fhall  be  clear — 

They  faw  their  injur'd  country's  woe  ; 

The  flaming  town,  the  wafted  field  ; 
Then  rufh'd  to  meet  the  infulting  foe  ; 

They  took  the  fpear — but  left  the  (hield. 

Led  by  thy  conquering  genius,  GREENE, 
The  Britons  they  compell'd  to  fly  : 

None  diftant  view'd  the  fatal  plain, 

None  griev'd,  in  fuch  a  caufe,  to  die — 

But,  like  the  Parthian,  fam'd  of  old, 
Who,  flying,  ftill  their  arrows  threw  ; 

Thefe  routed  Britons,  full  as  bold 
Retreated,  and  retreating  flew. 

Now  reft  in  peace,  our  patriot  band  ; 

Though  far  from  Nature's  limits  thrown, 
We  truft,  they  find  a  happier  land, 

A  brighter  fun-fhine  of  their  own. 


THE     ROYAL     ADVENTURER.* 

PRINCE  WILLIAM,  of  the  Brunfwick  race, 
To  witnefs  George's  fad  difgrace 

The  royal  lad  came  over, 
Rebels  to  kill,  by  Right  Divine— 
Deriv'd  from  that  illuftrious  line, 

The  beggars  of  Hanover. 

*  Prince  William  Henry,  the  third  fon  of  George  III.,  afterwards  William 
IV.,  entered  the  navy  as  midshipman  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  in  1779.  He  failed 
in  the  Prince  George,  of  98  guns,  to  Gibraltar,  in  the  courfe  of  which  cruife  he 
faw  fome  fervice,  under  Rodney,  in  conflict  with  the  Spanish  fleet  j  and  it  was 
in  this  fhip,  accompanied  by  Admiral  Digby,  that  he  arrived  at  New  York,  in 
September,  1781.  He  had  juft  completed  his  fifteenth  year.  He  was  ceremo- 
nioufly  welcomed  by  the  Commander-in-chief,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  by  Governor 
Robertfon,  and  "other  great  officers  of  the  crown,  conducted  to  Commodore 
Affleck's,  where  his  royal  Highnefs  dined,  and,  in  the  evening,  retired  to  apart 
ments  provided  for  his  accommodation  in  Wall  ftreet."  Soon  after  his  arrival, 
the  Governor,  in  the  name  of  himfelf,  his  Majefty's  council,  and  the  inhabitants, 
prefented  him  with  an  addrefs  overflowing  with  fulfome  expreflions  of  loyalty. 
"  On  the  report  of  your  coming,"  was  its  language,  "  we  felt  our  obligation  to 
our  gracious  king  for  this  new  and  fignal  proof  of  his  regard.  Your  royal  High 
nefs'  appearance  augments  our  gratitude,  by  improving  our  idea  of  the  extent  of 
his  goodncfs.  Your  prefence  animates  every  loyal  breaft.  The  glow  in  our  own 
perfuades  us  you  are  formed  to  win  every  heart.  A  rebellion  that  grew  upon 
prejudice,  mould  fink  at  the  approach  of  fo  fair  a  reprefentation  of  the  royal  vir 
tues.  But  if  a  mifled  fadYion,  not  to  be  vanquished  by  goodnefs,  perfifts  in  the 
war,  every  man  of  fpirit  will  be  proud  to  fight  in  a  caufe  for  which  you  expofe 
your  life."  The  Prince  remained  in  the  city  during  the  winter  and  the  enfuing 
fummer,  partaking  of  the  hofpitalitics  of  the  officers  and  others,  and,  during  the 


THE    ROYAL    ADVENTURER.  137 

So  many  chiefs  got  broken  pates 
In  vanquifhing  the  rebel  States, 

So  many  nobles  fell, 
That  George  the  third  in  paffion  cry'd, 
"  Our  royal  blood  muft  now  be  try'd  ; 

"  'Tis  that  muft  break  the  fpell : 

cc  To  you  (the  fat  pot-valiant  SWINE 
"  To  DIGBY  faid)  dear  friend  of  mine, 

"  To  you  I  truft  my  boy  ; 
"  The  rebel  tribes  fhall  quake  with  fears, 
"  Rebellion  die  when  he  appears, 

u  My  Tories  leap  with  joy." 

So  faid,  fo  done — the  lad  was  fent, 
But  never  reach'd  the  continent, 

An  ifland  held  him  fa  ft — 
Yet  there  his  friends  danc'd  rigadoons, 
The  Heflians  fung,  in  High  Dutch  tunes, 

"  Prince  William's  come  at  laft." 


fkating  feafon,  enjoying  that  paftime  on  the  ponds  in  the  vicinity.  In  March, 
1782,  there  was  a  plan  on  foot,  originated  by  Colonel  Matthias  Ogden,  of  New 
Jerfey,  to  "  furprife  in  their  quarters  and  bring  off"  the  Prince  and  Admiral 
Digby ;  but  though  the  fcheme  had  the  approval  of  Washington,  who  coun- 
felled  that,  if  captured,  the  prifoners  fliould  be  treated  "  with  all  poflible  re- 
fpeft,"  nothing  appears  to  have  been  attempted  in  the  matter.  On  the  4th  of 
June,  the  Prince  received,  as  is  duly  recorded  in  the  Rcyal  Gazette,  the  congratu 
lations  of  the  Commander-in-chief,  with  a  proceflion  of  officers,  on  occafion  of 
his  father's  birth-day;  and  on  the  aift  of  Auguft,  his  own  was  celebrated  with 
"the  ufual  felicitations."  The  Prince  was  afterwards  transferred  to  the  Bar- 
fleur,  commanded  by  S'ir  Samuel  Hood,  and  left  the  ftation  for  the  Weft  Indies 
prior  to  his  return  to  England,  in  the  fummer  of  1783. 


138  THE    ROYAL    ADVENTURER. 

"  Prince  William  comes  !"— The  Briton  cry'd— 
"  Our  labours  now  will  be  repaid — * 

"  Dominion  be  reftored — 
u  Our  monarch  is  in  William  feen, 
"  He  is  the  image  of  our  queen, 

"  Let  William  be  ador'd  !" 

The  Tories  came  with  long  addrefs, 
With  poems  groan'd  the  Royal  Prefs, 

And  all  in  William's  praife — 
The  youth  aftonifh'd  look'd  about 
To  find  their  va/l  dominions  out, 

Then  anfwer'd,  in  amaze  : 

"  Where  all  your  vaft  domain  can  be, 
"  Friends,  for  my  foul  I  cannot  fee  : 

"  'Tis  but  an  empty  name  : 
"  Three  wafted  iflands,  and  a  town 
"  In  rubbilh  buried — half  burnt  down, 

11  Is  all  that  we  can  claim  : 

"  I  am  of  royal  birth,  'tis  true, 

"  But  what,  my  fons,  can  princes  do, 

"  No  armies  to  command  ? 
u  Cornwallis  conqucr'd  and  diftrcft — 
"  Sir  Henry  Clinton  grown  a  jeft — 

"  I  curfe — and  quit  the  land."  [1782.] 

*  "The  glory  of  our  empire  wide 

"Shall  now  be  foon  reftor'd." — ED.  1795. 


LORD  DUNMORE'S  PETITION 

TO     THE     LEGISLATURE     OF     VIRGINIA: 

Humbly  Sheweth, 

H  AT  a  filly  old  fellow,  much  noted  of  yore, 

And  known  by  the  name  of  John,  earl  of  Dunmore, 
Has  again  ventur'd  over  to  vifit  your  fhore. 

The  reafon  of  this  he  begs  leave  to  explain — 

In  England  they  faid  you  were  conquer'd  and  flain, 

(But  the  devil  take  him  that  believes  them  again) — 

So,  hearing  that  moft  of  you  Rebels  were  dead, 
That  fome  had  fubmitted,  and  others  had  fled, 
I  mufter'd  my  Tories,  myfelf  at  their  head, 

And  over  we  fcudded,  our  hearts  full  of  glee, 
As  merry  as  ever  poor  devils  could  be, 
Our  ancient  dominion,  Virginia,  to  fee  ; 

Our  fhoe-boys,  and  tars,  and  the  very  cook's  mate 

Already  conceived  he  poflefs'd  an  eftate, 

And  the  Tories  no  longer  were  curfing  their  fate. 


140  LORD  DUNMORE'S  PETITION. 

Myfelf,  (the  don  Quixote)  and  each  of  the  crew, 

Like  Sancho,  had  iflands  and  empires  in  view — 

They  were  captains,  and  kings,  and  the  devil  knows  who  : 

But  now,  to  our  forrow,  difgrace,  and  furprife, 

No  longer  deceiv'd  by  the  Father  of  Lies,* 

We  hear  with  our  ears,  and  we  fee  with  our  eyes  : — 

I  have  therefore  to  make  you  a  modeft  requeft, 
(And  I'm  fure,  in  my  mind,  it  will  be  for  the  beft) 
Admit  me  again  to  your  manfions  of  reft. 

There  are  Eden,  and  Martin,  and  Franklin,  and  Tryon,f 

All  waiting  to  fee  you  fubmit  to  the  Lion, 

And  may  wait  'till  the  devil  is  king  of  Mount  Sion  : — 

Though  a  brute  and  a  dunce,  like  the  reft  of  the  clan, 
I  can  govern  as  well  as  moft  Englifhmen  can  ; 
And  if  I'm  a  drunkard,  I  ftill  am  a  man  : 

I  mifs'd  it  fome  how  in  comparing  my  notes, 
Or  fix  years  ago  I  had  join'd  with  your  votes  ; 
Not  aided  the  negroes  in  cutting  your  throats. 

Altho'  with  fo  many  hard  names  I  was  branded, 
I  hope  you'll  believe,  (as  you  will,  if  you're  candid) 
That  I  only  perform'd  what  my  mafter  commanded. 

*  Rivington,  the  printer  of  the  Royal  Gazette  at  New  York. 

f  The  laft  royal  governors  :  Robert  Eden,  of  Maryland  ;  Jofcph  Martin,  of 
North  Carolina}  William  Franklin,  of  New  Jerfey ;  William  Tryon,  of  New 
York. 


141 

Give  me  lands,  whores  and  dice,  and  you  ftill  may  be  free  ; 
Let  who  will  be  mafter,  we  fha'nt  difagree  ; 
If  king  or  if  Congrefs — no  matter  to  me  ; — 

I  hope  you  will  fend  me  an  anfwer  ftraightway, 
For  'tis  plain  that  at  Charlefton  we  cannot  long  ftay — 
And  your  humble  petitioner  ever  mail  pray. 
[Cbarlefton^  Jan.  6,  1782.] 


EPIGRAM 

Occafioncd  by  the  Title  of  Mr.  Rivington's  New  York  ROYAL  GAZETTE  being 
fcarcely  legible.* 

CAYS  Satan  to  Jemmy,  "  I  hold  you  a  bet 

"  That  you  mean  to  abandon  our  Royal  Gazette, 
"  Or,  between  you  and  me,  you  wou'd  manage  things  bettei 
u  Than  the  Title  to  print  on  fo  fneaking  a  letter. 

*  "James  Rivington,  the  king's  printer  in  New  York,  in  this  era  of  the  Rev 
olution,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  having  failed  as  a  bookfellcr  in  London,  came  to 
America  in  1760.  He  conducted  a  bookftore  in  Philadelphia  previous  to  his 
eftablifhmcnt  in  New  York ;  at  firft  in  that  bufinefs,  and  afterwards  as  a  printer. 
In  1773,  he  began  the  publication  of  the  Nciu  fork  Gazetteer,  and,  as  the  crifis 
of  the  Revolution  approached,  excited  the  hoftility  of  the  popular  party  by  his 
devotion  to  the  royal  caufe.  In  November,  1775,  his  prefs  was  broken  up  by  an 
incurfion  of  the  whig  leader,  Captain  Ifaac  Sears,  from  Connecticut.  Rivington 
then  left  for  England,  and  returning,  with  a  new  prefs,  was  appointed  king's 
printer.  The  Royal  Gazette,  which  he  now  published,  foon  attained  a  reputation 
for  its  unfcrupulous  partifanfhip. — It  was  popularly  called,  by  the  patriots  who 
fuffered  from  its  mifreprefentations,  'The  Lying  Gazette.'  Freneau,  who  knew 
the  man,  took  a  humorous  delight  in  replying  to  the  fquibs  and  attacks  with 
which  the  Gazette  abounded  j  and  as  the  war  clofed,  and  Rivington,  who,  it  was 
found,  had  afliftcd  Wafliington  as  a  fpy,  made  overtures  for  reconciliation,  the 
wits,  including,  with  Freneau,  Francis  Hopkinfon,  Dr.  Witherfpoon,  and  Trum- 
bull,  mingling  fcvcrity  with  ridicule,  opened  all  their  batteries  upon  him.  Riv 
ington,  a  fupple  courtier,  flood  the  fire  as  beft  he  might,  took  down  the  royal 
arms  of  which  Freneau  had  made  fp->rr,  an  <  continued  his  paper  with  the  title, 
Ri-vington't  New  fork  Gazette  and  Univerfa!  Advertiser.  But  the  people  were 


EPIGRAM.  143 

lt  Now  being  connected  fo  long  in  the  art, 

"  It  would  not  be  prudent  at  prefent  to  part ; 

u  And  people,  perhaps,  would  be  frighten'd,  and  fret 

"If  the  devil  alone  carry'd  on  the  Gazette." 

Says  Jemmy  to  Satan  (by  way  of  a  wipe) 
"  Who  gives  me  the  matter  fhould  furnifh  the  type  ; 
"  And  why  you  find  fault,  I  can  fcarcely  divine, 
"  For  the  types,  like  the  printer,  are  certainly  thine. 

ct  'Tis  yours  to  deceive  with  the  femblance  of  truth, 
"  Thou  friend  of  my  age,  and  thou  guide  of  my  youth  ! 
"  But,  to  profper,  pray  fend  me  fome  further  fupplies, 
"  A  fett  of  new  types,  and  a  fett  of  new  lies." 
\_Feb.  I3,  1782.] 

not  difpofcd  to  forget  his  mifdeeds,  and  the  Gazette  languifhed  and  came  to  an 
early  termination.  Rivington  continued  to  refide  in  New  York  till  his  death,  in 
1802,  at  the  age  of  feventy-eight." — Cyclopedia  of  American  Literature,  I., 
178-83. 


LINES 

•\>ncd  by  Mt.  RIVINGTON'I  new  Titular  type*  to  his  ROYAL  GAzirrr,  of 
February  17,  1782. 

\7E7ELL — now  (faid  the  devil)  it  looks  fomething  better! 

Your  title  is  ftruck  on  a  charming  new  Letter: 
Laft  night  in  the  dark,  as  I  gave  it  a  fquint, 
I  faw  my  dear  partner  had  taken  the  hint. 

I  ever  furmi*'d  (though  'twas  doubted  by  fome) 
That  the  old  types  were  fhadows  of  fubftance  to  come : 
But  if  the  NEW  LETTER  is  pregnant  with  charms 

icvrs  mr  to  think  of  thofc  curfed  King's  Arms. 
The  Diftt  et  man  drolt  (his  God  and  his  right) 
Is  fo  dim,  that  I  hardly  know  what  is  meant  by't 
The  paws  of  the  Lion  can  fcarcely  be  fee  n, 
And  the  Unicorn's  guts  are  moft  mamefully  lean  ! 
The  Crown  is  fo  worn  of  your  mafter  the  dcfpot, 
That  I  hardly  know  which  'tis  (a  crown  or  a  pifipot) — 
When  I  rub  up  my  day-lights,  and  look  very  (harp 
I  juft  can  diftinguish  the  Irifhman's  harp  ; 
Another  device  appears  rather  filly, 
Alas  !  it  is  only  the  made  of  the  LILLY  ! 
For  the  honour  of  George,  and  the  fame  of  our  nation 
Pray,  give  his  efcutcheons  a  rectification— 


RIVINGTON'S  NEW  TITULAR  TYPES.  145 

Or  I  know  what  I  know  (and  I'm  a  queer  (haver) 
Of  HIM  and  his  Arms  I'll  be  the  engraver.* 

[i78a.] 

*  The  pun  in  the  laft  word  is  diftindtly  marked  in  the  earlier  edition  of  1726, 
-"the  //j-grave-r." 

10 


ON     MR.    RIVINGTON'S    NEW    ENGRAVKD     KING'S 
ARMS   TO    HIS   ROYAL   GAZETTE. 

Tj^ROM  the  regions  of  night,  with  his  head  in  a  fack, 

Afcended  a  perfon  accoutred  in  black, 
And  upward  directing  his  circular  eye  whites  ; 
(Like  the  Jure-divino  political  Levites) 
And  leaning  his  elbow  on  Rivington's  fhelf, 
While  the  printer  was  bufy,  thus  mus'd  with  himfelf : 
"  My  mandates  are  fully  complied  with  at  laft, 
"  New  ARMS  are  engrav'd,  and  new  letters  are  caft  ; 
"  I  therefore  determine  and  freely  accord, 
"This  fervant  of  mine  fhall  receive  his  reward." 
Then  turning  about,  to  the  printer  he  faid, 
"  Who  late  was  my  fervant  fhall  now  be  my  Aid; 
"  Since  under  my  banners  fo  bravely  you  fight, 
u  Kneel  down  ! — for  your  merits  I  dubb  you  a  KNIGHT, 
"From  a  paflivefubattern  I  bid  you  to  rife 
u  The  INVENTOR,  as  well  as  the  PRINTER  OF  LIES." 


A    SPEECH 

That  ihould  have  been    fpoken   by  the  KING  of  the  ifland  of  BRITAIN  to  his 
PARLIAMENT. 

A/TY  lords,  I  can  hardly  from  weeping  refrain, 

When  I  think  of  this  year,  and  its  curfed  campaign  j 
But  ftill  it  is  folly  to  whine  and  to  grieve, 
For  things  will  yet  alter,  I  hope  and  believe. 

Of  the  four  fouthern  States  we  again  are  bereav'd, 
They  were  juft  in  our  grafp  (or  I'm  fadly  deceiv'd) : 
There  are  wizzards  and  witches  that  dwell  in  thofe  lands 
For  the  moment  we  gain  them,  they  flip  from  our  hands. 

Our  profpe&s,  at  prefent,  mofl  gloomy  appear ; 
Cornwallis  returns,  with  a  flea  in  his  ear, 
Sir  Henry  is  fick  of  his  ftation,  we  know — 
And  Amherft,  though  prefs'd,  is  unwilling  to  go. 

The  HERO*  that  fteer'd  for  the  cape  of  Good  Hope 
With  Monfieur  SufFrein  was  unable  to  cope — 
Many  months  are  elaps'd,  yet  his  tafk  is  to  do — 
To  conquer  the  Cape,  and  to  conquer  Peru  : 

*  Commodore  George  Johnftone,  commanding  the  Britifh  Eaft  India  fleet, 
was  attacked  by  the  French  fleet  under  M.  de  SuffVein  at  St.  Jago,  one  of  the 
Cape  de  Verd  Iflands,  in  1781.  Johnftone's  flag-ship  was  the  Rodney,  50. 


148  A    SPEECH. 

When  his  fquadron  at  Portfmouth  he  went  to  equip, 
He  promis'd  great  things  from  his  FIFTY-GUN  SHIP  ; 
But,  let  him  alone — while  he  knows  which  is  which, 
He'll  not  be  fo  ready  to  "die  in  a  ditch." 

This  feflion,  I  thought  to  have  told  you  thus  much, 
u  A  treaty  concluded,  and  peace  with  the  Dutch" — 
But,  as  ftubborn  as  ever,  they  vapour  and  brag, 
And  fail  by  my  nofe  with  the  Pruflian  flag. 

The  emprefs  refufes  to  join  on  our  fide, 
As  yet  with  the  Indians  we're  only  ally'd  : 
(Though  fuch  an  alliance  is  rather  improper, 
We  Englifli  are  white,  but  their  colour  is  copper.) 

The  Irifh,  I  fear,  have  fome  mifchief  in  view  ; 
They  ever  have  been  a  moft  troublefome  crew — 
If  a  truce  or  a  treaty  hereafter  be  made, 

They  (hall  pay  very  dear  for  their  prefent  free  trade. 
t 

Dame  Fortune,  I  think,  has  our  ftandard  forfaken, 
For  Tobago,  they  fay,  by  Frenchmen  is  taken  : 
Minorca's  befieg'd — and  as  for  Gibraltar, 
By  Jove,  if  it's  taken  I'll  take  to  the  halter. 

It  makes  me  fo  wroth,  I  could  fcold  like  Xantippe 
When  I  think  of  our  loflTes  along  Miflifippi — 
And  fee  in  the  Indies  that  horrible  Hyder 
His  conquefts  extending  ftill  wider,  and  wider. 


A    SPEECH.  149 

'Twixt  Wafhington,  Hy'der,  Don  Galvez,  De  Grafle, 
By  my  foul,  we  are  brought  to  a  very  fine  pafs — 
When  we've  reafon  to  hope  new  battles  are  won, 
A  packet  arrives — and  an  army's  undone  ! — 

In  the  midft  of  this  fcene  of  difmay  and  diftrefs, 
What  is  beft  to  be  done,  is  not  eafy  to  guefs, 
For  things  may  go  wrong  though  we  plan  them  aright, 
And  blows  they  muft  look  for,  whole  trade  is  to  fight. 

In  regard  to  the  Rebels,  it  is  my  decree 
That  dependent  on  Britain  they  ever  fhall  be  ; 
Or  I've  captains  and  hofts,  that  will  fly  at  my  nod 
And  {laughter  them  all — by  the  bleffing  of  God. 

But  if  they  fucceed,  as  they're  likely  to  do, 
Our  neighbours  muft  part  with  their  colonies  too  ; 
Let  them  laugh  and  be  merry,  and  make  us  their  jeft, 
When  La  Plata  revolts,  we  will  laugh  with  the  reft — 

'Tis  true  that  the  journey  to  caftle  St.  Juan 
Was  a  project  that  brought  the  projectors  to  ruin ; 
But  (till,  my  dear  lords,  I  would  have  you  reflect, 
Who  nothing  do  venture  can  nothing  expect. 

If  the  Commons  agree  to  afford  me  new  treafures, 
My  fentence  once  more  is  for  vigorous  meafures  : 
Accuftom'd  fo  long  to  head  winds  and  bad  weather, 
Let  us  conquer — or  go  to  the  devil  together. 

[1782.] 


RIVINGTON'S  LAST  WILL  AND  TESTAMENT. 

OINCE  life  is  uncertain,  and  no  one  can  fay, 

How  foon  we  may  go,  or  how  long  we  (hall  ftay, 
Methinks  he  is  wifeft  who  fooneft  prepares, 
And  fettles,  in  feafon,  his  worldly  affairs : 

Some  folks  are  fo  weak  they  can  fcarce  avoid  crying, 
And  think  when  they're  making  their  wills  they  are  dying  ; 
'Tis  furely  a  ferious  employment — but  (till, 
Who  e'er  died  the  fooner  for  making  his  will  ? 

Let  others  be  fad,  when  their  lives  they  review, 

But  I  know  whom  I've  ferv'd — and  him  faithfully  too  ; 

And  though  it  may  feem  a  fanatical  ftory 

He  often  has  (how'd  me  a  glimpfe  of  his  glory. 

IMPRIMIS,  my  carcafe  I  give  and  devife 
To  be  made  into  cakes  of  a  moderate  fize, 
To  nourifh  thofe  Tories  whofe  fpirits  may  droop, 
And  ferve  the  king's  army  with  portable  foup. 

Unlefs  I  miftake,  in  the  fcripturcs  we  read 
That  "worms  on  the  dead  fhall  delicioufly  feed," 
The  fcripture  ftands  true — and  that  I  am  firm  in, 
For  what  are  our  Tories  and  foldicrs  but  vermin  ? — 


RIVINGTON  S    LAST    WILL    AND    TESTAMENT.  151 

This  foup  of  all  foups  can't  be  call'd  that  of  beef, 
(And  this  may  to  fome  be  a  matter  of  grief:) 
But  I  am  certain  the  BULL  would  occafion  a  laugh, 
That  beef-portable-foup  fhould  be  made  of  a  CALF. 

To  the  king,  my  dear  matter,  I  give  a  full  fett 
(In  volumes  bound  up)  of  the  ROYAL  GAZETTE, 
In  which  he  will  find  the  vaft  records  contain'd 
Of  provinces  conquer'd,  and  victories  gain'd. 

As  to  ARNOLD,  the  traitor,  and  Satan,  his  brother, 
I  beg  they  will  alfo  accept  of  another ; 
And  this  fhall  be  bound  in  Morocco  red  leather, 
Provided  they'll  read  it,  like  brothers,  together. 

But  if  Arnold  fhould  die,  'tis  another  affair, 
Then  Satan,  furviving,  fhall  be  the  fole  heir ; 
He  often  has  told  me  he  thought  it  quite  clever, 
So  to  him  and  his  heirs  I  bequeath  it  forever. 

I  know  there  are  fome  (that  would  fain  be  thought  wife) 

Who  fay  my  Gazette  is  a  record  of  lies  ; 

In  anfwer  to  this,  I  fhall  only  reply — 

All  the  choice  that  I  had  was,  to  flarve  or  to  lie. 

My  fiddles,  my  flutes,  French  horns  and  guittars* 
I  leave  to  our  HEROES,  now  weary  of  wars — 

*  Rivington's  advertifements  of  liqueurs,  mufical  instruments,  fifhing-tackle, 
and  various  articles  of  ufe  and  luxury,  which  he  kept  in  his  ftore  for  the  wants 
of  the  officers,  are  mingled  with  recommendations  of  the  popular  literature  of  the 


152        RIVINGTON'S  LAST  WILL  AND  TESTAMENT. 

To  the  wars  of  the  stage  they  more  boldly  advance, 
The  captains  fhall  play,  and  the  foldiers  fhall  dance.* 

To  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  his  ufe  and  behoof, 
I  leave  my  French  brandy,  of  very  good  proof ; 
It  will  give  him  frefh  fpirits  for  battle  and  (laughter 
And  make  \\\mfeel  bolder  by  land  and  by  water  : 

Yet  I  caution  the  knight,  for  fear  he  do  wrong 
'Tis  avant  la  viande,  et  apres  le  poij/on^ — 
It  will  itrengthen  his  ftomach,  prevent  it  from  turning, 
And  digeft  the  affront  of  his  effigy — burning. 

To  Baron  KNYPHAUSEN,  his  heirs  and  affigns,J 
I  bequeath  my  old  Hock,  and  my  Burgundy  wines, 
To  a  true  Heffian  drunkard,  no  liquors  are  fweeter, 
And  I  know  the  old  man  is  no  foe  to  the  creature. 

To  a  GENERAL,  my  namefake,§  I  give  and  difpofe 
Of  a  purfe  full  of  clipp'd,  light,  fweated  half  joes  ; 

day,  in  a  farcical  ftyle.  He  fecms  to  have  prided  himfelf  in  particular  on  his 
fupply  of 'good  fiddles."  The  advertifements,  in  fact,  of  the  Royal  Gazette, — 
a  quaint  presentment  of  the  times, — afford  no  fmall  part  of  the  amufcmcnt  of  the 
journal  to  readers  of  the  prcfent  day. 

*  It  became  fartiionable  at  this  period  with  the  Britifh  officers,  to  aflume  the 
bufincls  of  the  Drama,  to  the  no  fmall  mortification  of  thofe  who  had  been  hold 
ing  them  up  as  the  undoubted  conquerors  of  North  America. — Author^  xutc,  ED. 
1809. 

f   Before  flefh  and  after  fifh. — See  Royal  Gazette. 

J  Baron  William  Von  Knyphaufcn,  Licutenant-Gcneral  in  the  Britifli  fervice, 
in  command  of  the  Hcflian  mercenaries,  celebrated  during  the  war  about  New 
York  and  the  Jcrfeys,  where  he  was  much  engaged. 

§  General  James  Robertfon,  a  Scotchman,  a  native  of  Fifcfliire,  an  old  officer 


RIVINGTON'S  LAST  WILL  AND  TESTAMENT.         153 

I  hereby  defire  him  to  take  back  his  trafh, 
And  return  me  my  HANNAY'S  infallible  WASH. 

My  ch  crime n  and  tables,  and  other  fuch  chattels 
I  give  to  CORNWALLIS,  renowned  in  battles  : 
By  moving  of  thefe  (not  tracing  the  map) 
He'll  explain  to  the  king  how  he  got  in  a  TRAP. 

To  good  DAVID  MATTHEWS*  (among  other  flops) 
I  give  my  whole  cargo  of  Maredants  drops, 
If  they  cannot  do  all,  they  may  cure  him  in  part, 
And  fcatter  the  poifon  that  cankers  his  heart  : 

Provided,  however,  and  neverthelefs, 

That  what  other  eftate  I  enjoy  and  pofTefs 

At  the  time  of  my  death  (if  it  be  not  then  fold) 

Shall  remain  to  the  Tories,  TO  HAVE  AND  TO  HOLD. 

As  I  thus  have  bequeath'd  them  both  carcafe  and  fleece, 
The  leaft  they  can  do  is  to  wait  my  deceafe  ; 
But  to  give  them  what  fubftance  I  have,  ere  I  die, 
And  be  eat  up  with  vermin,  while  living — not  I — 

of  the  army  in  America  who  had  refided  in  New  York  previous  to  the  Revo 
lution,  and  was  governor  of  the  city  during  its  occupation  by  the  Britifli.  In 
1780,  Lieutenant-General  James  Robertfon  was  a  member  of  the  commifiion 
lent  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  from  New  York  up  the  Hudlbn,  to  intercede  with 
Wafhingtcn  for  the  life  of  Andre.  Robertfon  was  met  at  Dobb's  Ferry  by 
Greene,  when  the  conference  proceeded  between  the  two,  the  former  urging  a 
reconfi deration  of  the  cafe  with  great  earneftnefs. 

*  Davi.1   Matthews  was  mayor  of  New  York  during  the  time  the  city  was 
held  by  the  Britiih,  in  the  Revolution. 


I«,4  RIVINGTONo    LAST    WILL    AND    TESTAMENT. 

In  WITNESS  whereof  (though  no  ailment  I  feel) 
Hereunto  I  fet  both  my  hand  and  my  feal ; 
(As  the  law  fays)  in  prefence  of  witnefles  twain, 
'Squire  John  Coghill  Knap,*  and  brother  Hugh  Game. 
[1782.] 

*  «  Knapp,"  fays  Dawfon,  in  a  note  to  "  New  York  City  during  the  Revolu 
tion,"  was  "  a  notorious  pettifogger,  a  convift'who  had  fled  from  England  for  his 
own  benefit." 


THE  POLITICAL  BALANCE ;   OR,  THE  FATES  OF 
BRITAIN  AND  AMERICA  COMPARED. 

A     TALE. 

Deciding  Fates,  in  Homer's  ftile,  I  fhew, 

And  bring  contending  Gods  once  more  to  view. 

A  S  Jove  the  Olympian  (who  both  I  and  you  know, 
Was  brother  to  Neptune,  and  hufband  to  Juno) 
Was  lately  reviewing  his  papers  of  ftate, 
He  happen'd  to  light  on  the  records  of  Fate 

In  Alphabet  order  this  volume  was  written — 
So  he  open'd  at  B,  for  the  article  Britain — 
She  ftruggles  fo  well,  faid  the  god,  I  will  fee 
What  the  fitters  in  Pluto's  dominions  decree. 

And,  firft,  on  the  top  of  a  column,  he  read 

"  Of  a  king,  with  a  mighty  foft  place  in  his  head, 

"  Who  mould  join  in  his  temper  the  afs  and  the  mule, 

"  The  third  of  his  name,  and  by  far  the  worft  fool  : 

"  His  reign  mall  be  famous  for  multiplication, 
"  The  fire  and  the  king  of  a  whelp  generation  : 


156  THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE. 

u  But  fuch  is  the  will  and  the  purpofe  of  fate, 

"  For  each  child  he  begets,  he  (hall  forfeit  a  State  : 

"  In  the  courfe  of  events,  he  (hall  find  to  his  coft 
u  That  he  cannot  regain  what  he  foolifhly  loft ; 
"  Of  the  nations  around  he  fhall  be  the  derifion, 
"  And  know,  by  experience,  the  Rule  of  Divifion." 

So  Jupiter  read — a  god  of  firft  rank — 
And  ftill  had  read  on — but  he  came  to  a  blank  : 
For  the  Fates  had  neglected  the  reft  to  reveal — 
They  either  forgot  it,  or  chofe  to  conceal : 

When  a  leaf  is  torn  out,  or  a  blot4  on  a  page 
That  pleafes  our  fancy,  we  fly  in  a  rage — 
So,  curious  to  know  what  the  Fates  would  fay  next, 
No  wonder  if  Jove,  difappointed,  was  vext. 

But  ftill,  as  true  genius  not  frequently  fails, 

He  glanc'd  at  the  Virgin,  and  thought  of  the  Scales ; 

And  faid,  "To  determine  the  will  of  the  Fates, 

"  One  fcale  (hall  weigh  Britain,  the  other  the  States." 

Then  turning  to  Vulcan,  his  maker  of  thunder, 
Said  he,  ll  My  dear  Vulcan,  I  pray  you  look  yonder, 
"  Thofe  creatures  are  tearing  each  other  to  pieces, 
"  And  inftead  of  abating,  the  carnage  increafes. 

"  Now,  as  you  are  a  blackfmith,  and  lufty  ftout  ham-cater, 
u  You  muft  make  me  3  globe  of  a  fliorter  diameter  ; 


THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE.  157 

"  The  world  in  abridgment,  and  juft  as  it  Hands 
"  With  all  its  proportions  of  waters  and  lands  ; 

u  But  its  various  divifions  muft  fo  be  defign'd, 

"  That  I  can  unhinge  it  whene'er  I've  a  mind — 

u  How  elfe  fhould  I  know  what  the  portions  will  weigh, 

u  Or  which  of  the  combatants  carry  the  day  ?" 

Old  Vulcan  comply'd,  (we've  no  reafon  to  doubt  it) 
So  he  put  on  his  apron  and  ftraight  went  about  it — 
Made  center,  and  circles  as  round  as  a  pancake, 
And  here  the  Pacific,  and  there  the  Atlantic. 

An  axis  he  hammer'd,  whofe  ends  were  the  poles, 
(On  which  the  whole  body  perpetually  rolls) 
A  brazen  meridian  he  added  to  thefe, 
Where  four  times  repeated  were  ninety  degrees. 

I  am  fure  you  had  laugh'd  to  have  feen  his  droll  attitude, 
When  he  bent  round  the  furface  the  circles  of  latitude, 
The  zones,  and  the  tropics,  meridians,  equator, 
And  other  fine  things  that  are  drawn  on  fait  water. 

Away  to  the  fouthward  (inftru&ed  by  Pallas) 
He  plac'd  in  the  ocean  the  Terra  Auftralis, 
New  Holland,  New  Guinea,  and  fo  of  the  reft — 
AMERICA  lay  by  herfelf  in  the  weft  : 

From  the  regions  where  winter  eternally  reigns, 
To  the  climes  of  Peru  he  extended  her  plains  ; 


158  THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE. 

Dark  groves,  and  the  zones  did  her  bofom  adorn, 
And  the  Crofters,*  new  burnifh'd,  he  hung  at  Cape  Horn. 

The  weight  of  two  oceans  fhe  bore  on  her  fides, 
With  all  their  convulfions  of  tempefts  and  tides  j 
Vaft  lakes  on  her  furface  did  fearfully  roll, 
And  the  ice  from  her  rivers  furrounded  the  pole. 

Then  Europe  and  Afia  he  northward  extended, 
Where  under  the  Arctic  with  Zembla  they  ended  ; 
(The  length  of  thefe  regions  he  took  with  his  garters, 
Including  Siberia,  the  land  of  the  Tartars). 

In  the  African  clime  (where  the  cocoa-nut  tree  grows) 
He  laid  down  the  dcfarts,  and  even  the  Negroes, 
The  {hores  by  the  waves  of  four  oceans  embrac'd, 
And  elephants  (trolling  about  in  the  wafte. 

In  forming  Eaft  India,  he  had  a  wide  fcope, 
Beginning  his  work  at  the  cape  of  Good  Hope  ; 
Then  eaftward  of  that  he  continued  his  plan, 
'Till  he  came  to  the  empire  and  ifles  of  Japan. 

Adjacent  to  Europe  he  ftruck  up  an  ifland, 
(One  part  of  it  low,  but  the  other  was  high  land) 
With  many  a  comical  creature  upon  it, 
And  one  wore  a  hat,  and  another  a  bonnet. 


*  Stars,  in  the  form  of  a  crofs,  which   mark  the  South  Pole  in  fouthern  lati 
tudes. 


THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE.  I TQ 

Like  emmits  or  ants  in  a  fine  fummer's  day, 
They  ever  were  marching  in  battle  array, 
Or  flopping  about  on  the  face  of  the  brine, 
Like  witches  in  egg-mells  (their  {hips  of  the  line). 

Thefe  poor  little  creatures  were  all  in  a  flame, 

To  the  lands  of  America  urging  their  claim, 

Still  biting,  or  flinging,  or  fpreading  their  fails  : 

(For  Vulcan  had  form'd  them  with  flings  in  their  tails). 

So  poor  and  fo  lean,  you  might  count  all  their  ribs,* 
Yet  were  fo  enraptur'd  with  crackers  and  fquibs, 
That  Vulcan  with  laughter  almoft  fplit  afunder, 
"  Becaufe  they  imagin'd  their  crackers  were  thunder." 

Due  weflward  from  thefe,  with  a  channel  between, 
A  fervant  to  flaves,  HIBERNIA  was  feen, 
Once  crowded  with  monarchs,  and  high  in  renown, 
But  all  fhe  retain'd  was  the  Harp  and  the  Crown  ! 

Infulted  forever  by  nobles  and  priefts, 
And  manag'd  by  bullies,  and  govern'd  by  beafls, 
She  look'd  ! — to  defcribe  her  I  hardly  know  how, 
Such  an  image  of  death  in  the  fcowl  on  her  brow  : 

For  fcaffblds  and  halters  were  full  in  her  view, 
And  the  fiends  of  perdition  their  cutlafles  drew  : 

*  Their  national  debt  being  now  above  £200,000,000  fterling. — Author's  note. 


l6o  THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE. 

And  axes  and  gibbets  around  her  were  plac'd, 
And  the  demons  of  murder  her  honours  defac'd — 
With  the  blood  of  the  WORTHY  her  mantle  was  ilain'd  : 
And  hardly  a  trace  of  her  beauty  remain'd.* 

Her  genius,  a  female,  reclin'd  in  the  (hade, 
And,  merely  for  mufic,  fo  mournfully  play'd, 
That  Jove  was  uneafy  to  hear  her  complain, 
And  order'd  his  blackfmith  to  loofen  her  chain  : 

Then  tipt  her  a  wink,  faying,  "  Now  is  your  time, 
44  (To  rebel  is  the  fin,  to  revolt  is  no  crime) 
"  When  your  fetters  are  off,  if  you  dare  not  be  free 
44  Be  a  flave  if  you  will,  but  complain  not  to  me.'* 

But  finding  her  timid,  he  cry'd  in  a  rage — 

44  Tho'  the  doors  are  flung  open,  (he  flays  in  the  cage  ! 

44  Subfervient  to  Britain  then  let  her  remain, 

44  And  her  freedom  (hall  be,  but  the  choice^  of  her  chain." 

At  length,  to  difcourage  all  ftupid  pretenfions, 
Jove  look'd  at  the  globe,  and  approv'd  its  dimcnfions, 
And  cry'd  in  a  tranfport — "  Why  !  what  have  we  here  ! 
44  Friend  Vulcan,  it  is  a  moft  beautiful  fphere  ! 

44  Now  while  I  am  bufy  in  taking  apart 

14  This  globe  that  is  form'd  with  fuch  exquifite  art, 

*  This  ftanza  and  the  preceding  are  additions,  from  the  edition  of  1809. 
f  "  Length."— ED.  1795. 


THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE.  l6l 

"  Go,  Hermes,  to  Libra,  (you're  one  of  her  gallants) 
"  And  afk,  in  my  name,  for  the  loan  of  her  balance." 

Away  polled  Hermes,  as  fwift  as  the  gales, 
And  as  fwiftly  return'd  with  the  ponderous  Scales, 
And  hung  them  aloft  to  a  beam  in  the  air, 
So  equally  pois'd,  they  had  turn'd  with  a  hair. 

Now  Jove  to  COLUMBIA  his  fhoulders  apply'd, 
But  aiming  to  lift  her,  his  ftrength  me  defy'd — 
Then,  turning  about  to  their  godfhips,  he  fays — 
u  A  BODY  so  VAST  is  not  eafy  to  raife  ; 

"  But  if  you  aflift  me,  I  ftill  have  a  notion 
"  Our  forces,  united,  can  put  her  in  motion, 
"  And  fwing  her  aloft,  (tho'  alone  I  might  fail) 
"  And  place  her,  in  fpite  of  her  bulk,  in  our  fcale  ; 

u  If  fix  years  together  the  Congrefs  have  ftrove, 

"  And  more  than  divided  the  empire  with  Jove  ; 

"  With  a  JOVE  like  myfelf,  who  am  nine  times  as  great, 

"  You  can  join,  like  their  foldiers,  to  heave  up  this  weight.'* 

So  to  it  they  went,  with  handfpikes  and  levers, 
And  upward  me  fprung,  with  her  mountains  and  rivers  ! 
Rocks,  cities,  and  iflands,  deep  waters  and  mallows, 
Ships,  armies,  and  forefts,  high  heads,  and  fine  fellows  : 

"  Stick  to  it  !"  cries  Jove — "  Now  heave  one  and  all  ! 
"At  leaft  we  are  lifting  <*one  eighth  of  the  ball  T 


l62  THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE. 

u  If  backward  (he  tumbles — then  trouble  begins, 

"  And  then  have  a  care,  my  dear  boys,  of  your  fhins  !' 

When  gods  are  determin'd,  what  project  can  fail  ? 
So  they  gave  a  hard  fhove,  and  fhe  mounted  the  fcalc  ; 
Sufpended  aloft,  Jove  view'd  her  with  awe— 
And  the  gods*  for  their  pay,  had  a  hearty — huzza  ! 

But  Neptune  bawl'd  out — "  Why  Jove  you're  a  noddy, 
"  Is  Britain  fufficient  to  poife  that  vaft  body  ? 
"  'Tis  nonfenfe  fuch  caftles  to  build  in  the  air— 
"  As  well  might  an  oyfter  with  Britain  compare." 

u  Away  to  your  waters,  you  bluftering  bully," 
Said  Jove,  "  or  I'll  make  you  repent  pf  your  folly, 
11  Is  Jupiter,  fir,  to  be  tutor'd  by  you  ? — 
"  Get  out  of  my  fight,  for  I  know  what  to  do  !" 

Then  fearching  about  with  his  fingers  for  Britain, 
Thought  he,  "  this  fame  ifland  I  cannot  well  hit  on  : 
"  The  devil  take  him  that  firft  calPd  her  the  GREAT  : 
"  If  fhe  was— (he  is  vaflly  diminim'd  of  late  !" 

Like  a  man  that  is  fearching  his  thigh  for  a  flea, 
He  peep'd  and  he  fumbled,  but  nothing  could  fee  ; 
At  laft  he  exclaim'd — "  I  am  furely  upon  it — 
"  I  think  I  have  hold  of  a  highlander's  bonnet." 

*  American  Soldiers. 


THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE.  163 

But  finding  his  error,  he  faid  with  a  figh, 
"  This  bonnet  is  only  the  ifland  of  Skie  !"* 
So  away  to  his  namefake  the  PLANET  he  goes, 
And  borrow'd  two  moons  to  hang  on  his  nofe. 

Thro'  thefe,  as  through  glafles,  he  faw  her  quite  clear, 
And  in  raptures  cry'd  out — "  I  have  found  her — {he's  here  ! 
"  If  this  be  not  Britain,  then  call  me  an  afs, 
"  She  looks  like  a  gem  in  an  ocean  of  glafs. 

'  But,  faith,  (he's  fo  fmall  I  muft  mind  how  I  fhake  her  : 
u  In  a  box  I'll  inclofe  her,  for  fear  I  fhould  break  her  : 
"  Though  a  god,  I  might  fuffer  for  being  aggreflbr, 
"  Since  fcorpions,  and  vipers,  and  hornets  poflefs  her ; 

"  The  white  cliffs  of  Albion  I  think  I  defcry, 
u  And  the  hills  of  Plinlimmon  appear  rather  nigh — 
"  But,  Vulcan,  inform  me  what  creatures  are  thefe, 
"  That  fmell  fo  of  onions,  and  garlick,  and  cheefe  ?" 

Old  Vulcan  reply'd — "  Odds  fplutter  a  nails  ! 

"  Why,  thefe  are  the  Welch,  and  the  country  is  Wales  ! 

u  When  Taffy  is  vext,  no  devil  is  ruder — 

tc  Take  care  how  you  trouble  the  offspring  of  TUDOR  ! 

"  On  the  crags  of  the  mountains  hur  living  bur  feeks, 
"  Hur  country  is  planted  with  garlick  and  leeks  ; 

*  An  ifland  on  the  north-weft  of  Scotland. 


(64  THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE. 

"  So  great  is  hur  choler,  beware  how  you  teize  hur, 
"  For  thefe  are  the  Britons — unconquer'd  by  Caefar." 

u  But  now,  my  dear  Juno,  pray  give  me  my  mittens, 
"  (Thefe  infe&s  I  am  going  to  handle  are  Britons) 
"  I'll  draw  up  their  ifle  with  a  finger  and  thumb, 
"  As  the  doctor  extracts  an  old  tooth  from  the  gum." 

Then  he  rais'd  her  aloft — but  to  fhorten  our  tale, 
She  look'd  like  a  CLOD  in  the  oppofite  fcale — 
Britannia  fo  fmall,  and  COLUMBIA  fo  large — 
A  (hip  of  firft  rate,  and  a  ferryman's  barge  ! 

Cry'd  Pallas  to  Vulcan,  "  Why,  Jove's  in  a  dream — 
"  Obferve  how  he  watches  the  turn  of  the  beam  ! 
u  Was  ever  a  mountain  outweigh'd  by  a  grain  ? 
"  Or  what  is  a  drop  when  compar'd  to  the  main  ?" 

But  Momus  alledg'd — u  In  my  humble  opinion, 

"  You  fhould  add  to  Great  Britain  her  foreign  dominion, 

u  When  this  is  appended,  perhaps  (he  will  rife, 

u  And  equal  her  rival  in  weight  and  in  fize." 

u  Alas  !  (faid  the  monarch)  your  project  is  vain, 
"  But  little  is  left  of  her  foreign  domain  ; 
"  And,  fcatter'd  about  in  the  liquid  expanfe, 
"  That  little  is  left  to  the  mercy  of  France  ; 

u  However,  we'll  lift  them,  and  give  her  fair  play — " 
And  foon  in  the  fcalc  with  their  miftrefs  they  lay  ; 


THE    POLITICAL    BALANCE.  165 

But  the  gods  were  confounded  and  ftruck  with  furprife, 
And  Vulcan  could  hardly  believe  his  own  eyes  ! 

For  (fuch  was  the  purpofe  and  guidance  of  fate) 
Her  foreign  dominions  diminifh'd  her  weight — 
By  which  it  appear'd,  to  Britain's  difafter, 
Her  foreign  pofleilions  were  changing  their  mafter. 

Then,  as  he  replac'd  them,  faid  Jove  with  a  fmile — 
"  COLUMBIA  fhall  never  be  rul'd  by  an  ifle — 
u  But  vapours  and  darknefs  around  her  fhall  rife, 
"  And  tempefts  conceal  her  a-while  from  our  eyes  ; 

u  So  locufts  in  Egypt  their  fquadrons  difplay, 
"  And  rifing,  disfigure  the  face  of  the  day  : 
"  So  the  moon,  at  her  full,  has  a  frequent  eclipfe, 
"  And  the  fun  in  the  ocean  diurnally  dips. 

"  Then  ce'afe  your  endeavours,  ye  vermin  of  Britain — 
(And  here,  in  derifion,  their  ifland  he  fpit  on) 
"  'Tis  madnefs  to  feek  what  you  never  can  find, 
"  Or  to  think  of  uniting  what  Nature  disjoin'd  : 

"  But  ftill  you  may  flutter  awhile  with  your  wings, 
u  And  fpit  out  your  venom  and  brandifh  your  flings  • 
"  Your  hearts  are  as  black,  and  as  bitter  as  gall, 
"  A  curfe  to  mankind — and  a  blot  on  the  BALL." 
\_Aprll,  1782.] 


SIR     HARRY'S     INVITATION* 


,  gentlemen  Tories,  firm,  loyal,  and  true, 
Here  are  axes  and  (hovels,  and  fomething  to  do 

For  the  fake  of  our  king, 

Come,  labour  and  fing  ; 

You  left  all  you  had  for  his  honour  and  glory, 
And  he  will  remember  the  fuffering  Tory  : 

We  have,  it  is  true, 

Some  fmall  work  to  do  ; 

But  here's  for  your  pay 

Twelve  coppers  a  day, 
And  never  regard  what  the  rebels  may  ^fay, 
But  throw  off  your  jerkins  and  labour  away. 

To  raife  up  the  rampart,  and  pile  up  the  wall, 
To  pull  down  old  houfes  and  dig  the  canal, 

To  build  and  deftroy  — 

Be  this  your  employ, 

In  the  day  time  to  work  at  our  fortifications, 
And  fteal  in  the  night  from  the  rebels  your  rations  ; 

The  king  wants  your  aid 

Not  empty  parade  ; 

*  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  at  New  York,  to  the  Refugees. 


SIR  HARRY'S  INVITATION.  167 

Advance  to  your  places 

Ye  men  of  long  faces, 

Nor  ponder  too  much  on  your  former  difgraces, 
This  year,  I  prefume,  will  quite  alter  your  cafes. 

Attend  at  the  call  of  the  fifer  and  drummer, 

The  French  and  the  Rebels  are  coming  next  fummer, 

And  forts  we  muft  build 

Though  Tories  are  kilFd — 

Then  courage,  my  jockies,  and  work  for  your  king, 
For  if  you  are  taken  no  doubt  you  will  fwing — 

If  York  we  can  hold 

I'll  have  you  enroll'd  ; 

And  after  you're  dead 

Your  names  fhall  be  read 

As  who  for  their  monarch  both  labour'd  and  bled, 
And  ventur'd  their  necks  for  their  beef  and  their  bread. 

'Tis  an  honour  to  ferve  the  braveft  of  nations, 
And  be  left  to  be  hang'd  in  their  capitulations — 

Then  fcour  up  your  mortars 

And  ftand  to  your  quarters, 
'Tis  nonfenfe  for  Tories  in  battle  to  run, 
They  never  need  fear  fword,  halberd,  or  gun  j 

Their  hearts  fhould  not  fail  'em, 

No  balls  will  aflail  'em, 

Forget  your  difgraces 

And  Jhorten  your  faces, 

For  'tis  true  as  the  gofpel,  believe  it  or  not, 
Who  are  born  to  be  bang  d,  will  never  be  fhot. 


DIALOGUE, 

AT    HYDE-PARK.    CORNER,  (LONDON.) 

Burgoyne. 

T    ET  thofe,  who  will,  be  proud  and  fneer, 

And  call  you  an  unwelcome  peer, 
But  I  am  glad  to  fee  you  here  : 
The  prince  that  fills  the  Britifh  throne, 
Unlefs  fuccefsful,  honours  none  ; 
Poor  Jack  Burgoyne  ! — you're  not  alone. 

Cornwallis. 

Thy  fhips,  De  Grafle,  have  caus'd  my  grief- 

To  rebel  (bores  and  their  relief 

There  never  came  a  luckier  chief: 

In  fame's  black  page  it  (hall  be  read, 

By  Gallic  arms  my  foldiers  bled — 

The  rebels  thine  in  triumph  led. 

Burgoyne. 

Our  fortunes  different  forms  aflume  : — 

I  call'd  and  call'd  for  elbvw-roojn, 

'Till  GATES  dlfcbargd  me  to  my  doom  ; 


DIALOGUE    AT    HYDE-PARK    CORNER.  l6q 

But  you,  that  conquer'd  far  and  wide, 
In  little  York  thought  fit  to  hide, 
Thefubjeft  ocean  at  your  fide. 

Cornwallis. 

And  yet  no  force  had  gain'd  that  poft — 
Not  Wafhington,  his  country's  boaft, 
Nor  Rochambeau,  with  all  his  hoft, 
Nor  all  the  Gallic  fleet's  parade — 
Had  Clinton  hurried  to  my  aid, 
And  Sammy  Graves  been  not  afraid. 

Burgoyne. 

For  head  knock'd  off,  or  broken  bones, 
Or  mangled  corpfe,  no  price  atones  ; 
Nor  all  that  prattling  rumour  fays, 
Nor  all  the  piles  that  art  can  raife, 
The  poet's  or  the  parfon's  praise. 

Cornwallis. 

Though  I  am  brave,  as  well  as  you, 
Yet  ftill  I  think  your  notion  true  ; 
Dear  brother  Jack,  our  toils  are  o'er — 
With  foreign  conquefts  plagu'd  no  more. 
We'll  flay  and  guard  our  native  more. 


ON    THE    LATE 

ROYAL   SLOOP    OF  WAR,  'GENERAL  MONK, 

[FORMERLY    THE    WASHINGTON] 

Mounting  Six  quarter  deck  Wooden  Guns. 


the  Wafhington  (hip  by  the  Englifh  was  beat, 
They  fent  her  to  England  to  {hew  their  great  feat, 
And  Sandwich  ftraightway,  as  a  proof  of  his  fpunk, 
Dafh'd  out  her  old  name,  and  call'd  her  the  Monk.* 

u  This  MONK  hated  Rebels  (faid  Sandy)  —  'od  rot  'em, 
"  So  heave  her  down  quickly,  and  copper  her  bottom  ; 
"  With  the  floops  of  our  navy  we'll  have  her  enrolPd, 
"  And  mann'd  with  pick'd  failors,  to  make  her  fee/  bold. 

u  To  (hew  that  our  king  is  both  valiant  and  good, 

u  Some  guns  fhall  be  iron,  and  others  be  wood  ; 

"  And,  in  truth,  (tho'  I  wifh  not  the  fecret  to  fpread) 

"  All  her  guns  fhould  be  wooden  —  to  fuit  with  his  head." 


*  General  Monk,  who  was  the  moft  aftive  agent  in  rcfloring  Charles   II. — 
duthor't  note. 


BARNEY'S     INVITATION. 


,  all  ye  lads  that  know  no  fear, 
To  wealth  and  honour  we  will  fteer 
In  the  Hyder  Ali  privateer, 

Commanded  by  brave  Barney.* 

She's  new  and  tru,e,  and  tight  and  found, 
Well  rigg'd  aloft,  and  all  well  found  — 
Come  and  be  with  laurel  crown'd, 

Away  —  and  leave  your  lafles. 

> 

Accept  our  terms  without  delay, 

And  make  your  fortunes  while  you  may, 

Such  offers  are  not  every  day 

In  the  power  of  the  jolly  failor. 

*  The  "  Hyder  Ali,"  or  Ally,  as  fhe  was  popularly  called,  was  a  fmall  mer 
chantman,  purchafed  in  the  fpring  of  1782  by  the  State  of  Pennfylvania,  and  fit 
ted  out,  with  the  afliftance  of  funds  furnished  by  the  merchants  of  Philadelphia, 
to  free  the  Delaware  of  the  marauding  cruifers  of  the  enemy.  Lieutenant  Jofhua 
Barney  was  feledted  as  her  commander.  He  entered  upon  the  fervice  with  fpirit. 
His  action  in  the  Delaware  Bay  with  the  Britifh  floop-of-war  General  Monk,  the 
brilliant  firft-fruits  of  his  appointment,  on  the  8th  of  April,  is  the  fubjedr.  of  the 
following  poem.  The  General  Monk  had  formerly  been  the  American  privateer 
General  Wafhington  j  fhe  had  been  captured  and  her  name  changed  by  the 
Britifh.  Her  old  name  was  now  reftored.  She  was  fubfequently  employed  by 
the  General  Government  as  a  packet. 


172  BARNEY'S  INVITATION. 

Succefs  and  fame  attend  the  brave, 
But  death  the  coward  and  the  flave, 
Who  fears  to  plough  the  Atlantic  wave, 
To  feek  the  bold  invaders. 

Come,  then,  and  take  a  cruifing  bout, 
Our  (hip  fails  well,  there  is  no  doubt, 
She  has  been  try'd  both  in  and  out, 
And  anfwers  expectation. 

Let  no  proud  foes  whom  Europe*  bore 
Diftrefs  our  trade,  infult  our  fhore — 
Teach  them  to  know  their  reign  is  o'er, 
Bold  Philadelphia  failors  ! 

We'll  teach  them  how  to  fail  fo  near, 
Or  to  venture  on  the  Delaware, 
When  we  in  warlike  trim  appear, 
And  cruife  without  Henlopen. 

Who  cannot  wounds  and  battles  dare 
Shall  never  clafp  the  blooming  fair  ; 
The  brave  alone  their  charms  fhall  (hare, 
The  brave  are  their  protectors. 

With  hand  and  heart  united  all, 
Prepar'd  to  conquer  or  to  fall, 
Attend,  my  lads,  to  honour's  call, 
Embark  in  our  Hyder  Ali. 

*  «  That  Britain."— ED.  1786. 


BARNEY  S    INVITATION.  173 

From  an  eaftern  prince  me  takes  her  name, 
Who,  fmit  with  freedom's  facred  flame, 
Ufurping  Britons  brought  to  fhame, 
His  country's  wrongs  avenging ; 

See,  on  her  ftern  the  waving  ftars — 
Inur'd  to  blood,  inur'd  to  wars, 
Come,  enter  quick,  my  jolly  tars, 

To  fcourge  thefe  haughty  Britons. 

Here's  grog  enough — then  drink  about, 
I  know  your  hearts  are  firm  and  ftout ; 
American  blood  will  ne'er  give  out, 
And  often  we  have  prov'd  it. 

Though  ftormy  oceans  round  us  roll, 
We'll  keep  a  firm  undaunted  foul, 
Befriended  by  the  cheering  bowl, 
Sworn  foes  to  melancholy  : 

While  timorous  landfmen  lurk  on  more, 
'Tis  ours  to  go  where  cannons  roar — 
On  a  coafting  cruife  we'll  go  once  more, 
Defpifers  of  all  danger  ; 

And  Fortune  ftill  that  crowns  the  brave 
Shall  guard  us  o'er  the  gloomy  wave — 
A  fearful  heart  betrays  a  knave  , 
Succefs  to  the  Hyder  Ali. 


SONG,  ON  CAPTAIN  BARNEY'S  VICTORY  OVER  THE 
SHIP  GENERAL  MONK. 


/^\'ER  the  wafte  of  waters  cruifing, 

Long  the  General  Monk  had  reign'd  ; 
All  fubduing,  all  reducing, 

None  her  lawlefs  rage  reftrain'd  : 
Many  a  brave  and  hearty  fellow 

Yielding  to  this  warlike  foe, 
When  her  guns  began  to  bellow 

Struck  his  humbled  colours  low. 

But  grown  bold  with  long  fuccefles, 

Leaving  the  wide  wat'ry  way, 
She,  a  ftranger  to  diftrefles, 

Came  to  cruife  within  Cape  May  : 
11  Now  we  foon  (faid  Captain  Rogers) 

"  Shall  their  men  of  commerce  meet  ; 
"  In  our  hold  we'll  have  them  lodgers, 

"  We  (hall  capture  half  their  fleet. 

"  Lo  !  I  fee  their  van  appearing  — 

u  Back  our  topfails  to  the  maft  — 

"  They  toward  us  full  are  fleering 
u  With  a  gentle  weftern  blaft  : 


175 


"  Ive  a  lift  of  all  their  cargoes, 

"  All  their  guns,  and  all  their  men  : 

"  I  am  fure  thefe  modern  Argo's 
"  Can't  efcape  us  one  in  ten  : 

"  Yonder  comes  the  Charming  Sally 

'c  Sailing  with  the  General  Greene — 
"  Firft  we'll  fight  the  HYDER  ALI, 

"  Taking  her  is  taking  them  : 
"  She  intends  to  give  us  battle, 

"  Bearing  down  with  all  her  fail — 
u  Now,  boys,  let  our  cannon  rattle  ! 

"  To  take  her  we  cannot  fail. 

"  Our  eighteen  guns,  each  a  nine  pounder, 

"  Soon  (hall  terrify  this  foe  ; 
cc  We  {hall  maul  her,  we  mail  wound  her, 

"  Bringing  rebel  colours  low." — 
While  he  thus  anticipated 

Conquefts  that  he  could  not  gain, 
He  in  the  Cape  May  channel  waited 

For  the  fhip  that  caus'd  his  pain. 

Captain  Barney  then  preparing, 

Thus  addrefs'd  his  gallant  crew — 

"  Now,  brave  lads,  be  bold  and  daring, 
"  Let  your  hearts  be  firm  and  true ; 

"  This  is  a  proud  Englifh  cruifer, 

"Roving  up  and  down  the  main, 


jy6  CAPTAIN    BARNEY'S    VICTORY. 

"We  muft  fight  her — muft  reduce  her, 
u  Tho*  our  decks  be  ftrew'd  with  flain. 

"  Let  who  will  be  the  furviver, 

41  We  muft  conquer  or  muft  die, 
"  We  muft  take  her  up  the  river, 

"  Whate'er  comes  of  you  or  I  : 
"  Tho'  (he  fhows  moft  formidable 

"  With  her  eighteen  pointed  nines, 
"  And  her  quarters  clad  in  fable, 

"  Let  us  baulk  her  proud  defigns. 

tl  With  four  nine  pounders,  and  twelve  fixes 

"  We  will  face  that  daring  band  ; 
"  Let  no  dangers  damp  your  courage, 

"  Nothing  can  the  brave  withftand. 
"  Fighting  for  your  country's  honour, 

u  Now  to  gallant  deeds  afpire  ; 
11  Helmfman,  bear  us  down  upon  her, 

"  Gunner,  give  the  word  to  fire  !" 

Then  yard-arm  and  yard-arm  meeting, 

Strait  began  the  difmal  fray, 
Cannon  mouths,  each  other  greeting, 

Belch'd  their  fmoky  flames  away  : 
Soon  the  langrage,  grape,  and  chain-fliot, 

That  from  Barney's  cannons  flew, 
Swept  the  Monk,  and  clear'd  each  round  to\ 

Kill'd  and  wounded  half  her  crew. 


Captain  Rogers  ftrove  to  rally  : 

But  they  from  their  quarters  fled, 
While  the  roaring  Hyder  Ali 

Cover'd  o'er  his  decks  with  dead. 
When  from  their  tops  their  dead  men  tumbled, 

And  the  ftreams  of  blood  did  flow, 
Then  their  proudeft  hopes  were  humbled 

By  their  brave  inferior  foe. 

All  aghaft,  and  all  confounded, 

They  beheld  their  champions  fall, 
And  their  captain,  forely  wounded, 

Bade  them  quick  for  quarters  call. 
Then  the  Monk's  proud  flag  defcended, 

And  her  cannon  ceas'd  to  roar ; 
By  her  crew  no  more  defended, 

She  confefs'd  the  conteft  o'er. 

Come,  brave  boys,  and  fill  your  glafTes, 

You  have  humbled  one  proud  foe, 
No  brave  a&ion  this  furpafles, 

Fame  {hall  tell  the  nations  fo — 
Thus  be  Britain's  woes  completed, 

Thus  abridg'd  her  cruel  reign, 
'Till  (he  ever,  thus  defeated, 

Yields  the  fceptre  of  the  main. 


THE    HESSIAN     DEBARKATION. 

T3  EJOICE,  O  Death  !   Britannia's  tyrant  fends     . 
From  German  plains  his  myriads  to  our  fhore  ; 
The  fierce  Hibernian  with  the  Heflian  join'd — 

Bring  them,  ye  winds,  but  waft  them  back  no  more  ' 

To  thefe  far  climes  with  (lately  ftep  they  come, 
Refolv'd  all  prayers,  all  prowefs  to  defy  : 

Smit  with  the  love  of  countries  not  their  own 
They  come — alas  !  to  conquer,  not  to  die. 

In  the  flow  breeze  I  hear  their  funeral  fong 

The  dance  of  ghofts  the  infernal  tribes  prepare  ; 

To  hell's  dark  manftons  hafte  the  abandon'd  throng, 
Tafting  from  German  fculls  great  ODIN'S  beer. 

From  dire  Cefarea — forc'd  thefe  flaves  of  kings — 
Quick  let  them  take  their  way  on  eagles'  wings  ; 
To  thy  ftrong  pofts,  MANHATTAN'S  ifle,  repair, 
To  meet  the  vengeance  that  awaits  them  there. 


THE     NORTHERN     SOLDIER, 

TN  vain  you  talk  of  fruits  and  flowers, 

When  rude  December  chills  the  plain, 
And  nights  are  cold,  and  long  the  hours, 
To  damp  the  ardour  of  the  Twain  j 
Who,  parting  from  his  focial  fire, 
All  comfort  muft  forego, 
And  here,  and  there, 
And  every  where 
Purfue  the  invading  foe. 

But  we  muft  fleep  in  frofts  and  fnows ; 
No  feafon  breaks  up  our  campaign : 
Hard  as  the  oaks,  we  dare  oppofe 
The  autumnal,  or  the  wintry  reign. 
Alike  to  us,  the  winds  that  blow 
In  Summer's  feafon  gay, 
Or  thofe  that  ra.ve 
On  Hudfon's  wave, 
And  drift  his  ice  away. 

Traitors  and  death  may  cloud  our  fcene, 
The  ball  may  pierce,  the  cold  may  kill, 


l8o  THE    NORTHERN    SOLDIER. 

And  dire  misfortunes  intervene  : 
But  Freedom  fhall  be  potent,  ftill, 
To  drive  thefe  Britons  from  our  fhore, 
Who,  cruel  and  unkind, 
With  Havifh  chain 
Attempt,  in  vain, 
Our  free-born  limbs  to  bind. 


TRUTH     ANTICIPATED. 

H  AT  brilliant  events  have  of  late  come  to  pafs, 

No  lefs  than  the  capture  of  Monfieur  DE  GRASSE  !* 
His  Majefty's  Printer  has  told  it  for  true, 
As  we  had  it  from  him,  fo  we  give  it  to  you. 

Many  folks  of  difcernment  the  ftory  believ'd, 
And  the  devil  himfelf  it  at  firft  had  deceiv'd, 

*  Admiral  Rodney's  decifive  engagement  with  the  French  fleet,  under  the 
Count  de  GrafTe,  was  fought  off  the  ifland  of  Martinique,  April  ia,  1782.  The 
battle  lafted  from  feven  in  the  morning  till  evening,  when  the  action  ended  in 
the  utter  defeat  of  the  French.  Rodney,  in  the  Formidable,  engaged  the  Ville 
de  Paris,  the  flag-fhip  of  De  Grafle,  and  forced  her  furrender.  De  Grafle  was 
taken  to  England  a  prifoner  of  war.  For  this  diftinguifhed  fervice,  Rodney  was 
raifed  to  the  peerage. 

Sir  George  Rodney's  "  Letter  on  his  late  glorious  victory  over  the  French  fleet 
in  the  Weft  Indies,"  appeared  in  Rivington's  Gazette  of  May  15,  178*.  It  was 
addrefled  to  Mr.  Charles  Kerr,  at  Antigua,  on  the  1 8th  of  April,  and  read: 
"The  French  fleet,  after  an  action  that  lafted  from  feven  in  the  morning  till 
funfet,  on  the  12th  of  April,  1782,  met  with  a  total  defeat.  The  Ville  de  Paris, 
with  four  other  fhips  taken  and  the  Diadem  funk,  graced  the  victory,  and  their 
whole  fleet  fo  extremely  fhattered,  that  had  there  been  but  two  hours  more  day 
light,  more  than  half  would  have  been  taken.  Two  hundred  and  thirty  Britifh 
killed,  feven  hundred  and  fifty-nine  wounded.  I  would  have  compounded  for 
three  thoufand  at  leaft;  the  French  muft  have  loft  many  more  than  five  thou- 
fand.  Their  whole  army  was  on  board."  The  following  French  fhips  were 
taken:  La  Ville  de  Paris,  noj  Le  Glorieux,  74;  Le  Caefar,  745  Le  Hector, 
74}  L'Ardent,  64$  Le  Diadem,  74,  funk. 


l82  TRUTH    ANTICIPATED. 

Had  it  not  been  that  Satan  imported  the  fluff, 
And  fign'd  it  George  Rodney,  by  way  of  high  proof. 

Said  Satan  to  Jemmy,  "  Let's  give  them  the  whappers — 
"  Some  news  I  have  got  that  will  bring  in  the  coppers, 
"  And  truth  it  fhall  be,  though  I  pafs  it  for  lies, 
"  And  making  a  page  of  your  Newfpaper  fize. 

u  A  wide  field  is  open  to  favour  my  plan, 
"  And  the  rebels  may  prove  that  I  lie — if  they  can  ; 
"  Since  they  jeftcd  and  laugh'd  at  our  lying  before, 
u  Let  it  pafs  for  a  lie,  to  torment  them  the  more. — 

"  My  wings  are  yet  wet  with  the  Weft-India  dew, 
"  And  Rodney  I  left,  to  come  hither  to  you, 
"  I  left  him  bedeviPd  with  brimftone  and  fmoke, 
"  The  French  in  diftrefs,  and  their  armament  broke. 

"  For  news  fo  delightful,  with  heart  and  with  voice 

"  The  Tories  of  every  degree  fhall  rejoice  ; 

"  With  charcoal  and  fulphur  fhall  utter  their  joy 

"  'Till  they  all  get  as  black  as  they  paint  the  old  Boy." 

Thus,  pleas'd  with  the  motion,  each  cutting  a  caper, 
Down  they  fat  at  the  table,  with  pen,  ink,  and  paper  ; 
In  lefs  than  five  minutes  the  matter  was  ftated, 
And  Jemmy  turn'd  fcribe,  while  Satan  dictated. 

"  Begin  (faid  the  devil)  in  the  form  of  a  Letter, 
u  (If  you  call  it  true  copy, 'tis  fo  much  the  better) 


TRUTH    ANTICIPATED.  1 83 

"  Make  Rodney  aflert  that  he  met  the  French  fleet, 
tc  Engag'd  it,  and  gave  'em  a  total  defeat. 

"  But  the  better  to  vamp  up  a  fhow  of  reality, 

"  The  tale  muft  be  told  with  circumftantiality, 

"  What  veflels  were  conquered  by  Britain's  bold  fons, 

"  Their  quotas  of  men,  and  their  numbers  of  guns. 

cc  There's  the  Ville  de  Paris — one  hundred  and  ten — 
"  Write  down,  that  George  Rodney  has  kill'd  half  her  men  ; 
"  That  her  hull  and  her  rigging  are  fhatter'd  and  fhaken, 
"  Her  flag  humbled  down,  and  her  admiral  taken  : 

"  Le  Cefar,  'tis  true,  is  a  feventy-four, 

"  But  the  Ville  de  Paris  was  thirty-fix  more  ; 

"  With  a  grey  goofe's  quill  if  that  fhip  we  did  feize  on, 

"  Le  Cefar  muft  fall,  or  I'll  know  what's  the  reafon. 

"  The  next  that  I  fix  on  to  take,  is  the  Hetfor, 
"  (Her  name  may  be  Trojan,  but  (hall  not  protect  her) 
"  Don't  faulter,  dear  comrade,  and  look  like  a  goofe, 
"  If  we've  taken  thefe  three,  we  can  take  Glorieufe. 

"  The  laft  mention'd  fhip  runs  their  lofs  up  to  four, 
"  Le  Diadem  funk,  (hall  make  it  one  more ; 
"  And  now,  for  the  fake  of  round  numbers,  dear  coufin, 
u  Write  Ardent,  and  then  we  have  juft  half-a-dozen  !" 

Jemmy  fmil'd  at  the  notion,  and  whifper'd,  "  O  fy  ! 
"  Indeed  'tis  a  mame  to  perfuade  one  to  lie" — 


184  TRUTH    ANTICIPATED. 

But  Satan  replied — "  Confider,  my  fon, 

"  I  am  prince  of  the  winds,  and  have  feen  what  is  done 

11  With  a  conqueft  like  this,  how  bright  we  fhall  fhine  ! 

"That  Rodney  has  taken  fix  Jhips  of  the  Line, 

"  Will  be  in  your  paper  a  brilliant  affair  ; 

"  How  the  tones  will  laugh,  and  the  rebels  will  fwear  ! 

"  Rut  farther,  dear  Jemmy,  make  Rodney  to  fay, 

11  If  the  fun  two  hours  longer  had  held  out  the  day, 

"  The  reft  were  fo  beaten,  fo  ba\fted,fo  tore, 

"  He  had  taken  them  ALL,  and  he  knew  not  but  MORE." 

So  the  partners  broke  up  as  good  friends  as  they  met, 
And  foon  it  was  all  in  the  Royal  Gazette ; 
The  Tories  rejoic'd  at  the  very  good  news, 
And  faid,  There's  no  fear  we  Jhall  die  In  our  Jhoes. 

Now  let  us  give  credit  to  Jemmy,  forfooth, 
Since  once  in  a  way  he  has  hit  on  the  truth  : 
If  again  he  returns  to  his  practice  of  lies, 
He  hardly  reflects  where  he'll  go  when  he  dies. 

But  (till,  when  he  dies,  let  it  never  be  faid 

That  he  refts  in  his  grave  with  no  verfe  at  his  head  ; 

But  furnifh,  ye  poets,  fome  fhort  epitaph, 

And  fomething  like  this,  that  readers  may  laugh  : 

Here  lies  a  King's  Printer,  we  needn't  fay  who  : 
There  is  reafon  to  think  that  he  tells  what  is  true  : 


TRUTH    ANTICIPATED.  185 


But  if  he  lies  here,  'tis  not  over-ftrange, 
His  prefent  pofition  is  but  a  fmall  change, 
So,  reader,  pafs  on — 'tis  a  folly  to  figh, 
For  all  his  life  long  he  did  little  but  LIE. 

[1782.] 


ON  SIR  HENRY  CLINTON'S  RECALL. 

'  I  HHE  dog  that  is  beat  has  a  right  to  complain — 

Sir  Harry  returns  a  difconfolate  man^ 
To  the  face  of  his  mafter,  the  Lord's  oil-anointed, 
To  the  country  provided  for  thieves  difappointed. 

Our  FREEDOM,  he  thought,  to  a  tyrant  muft  fall, 
He  concluded  the  weakeft  muft  go  to  the  wall ; 
The  more  he  was  flatter'd,  the  bolder  he  grew — 
He  quitted  the  old  world  to  conquer  the  new. 

But  in  fpite  of  the  deeds  he  has  done  in  his  garrifon, 
(And  they  have  been  curious  beyond  all  comparifon) 
He  now  muft  go  home,  at  the  call  of  his  king, 
To  anfwer  the  charges  that  Arnold  may  bring. 

But  what  are  the  a&s  that  this  chief  has  atchiev'd  ? — 
If  good,  it  is  hard  he  (hould  now  be  aggriev'd, 
And  the  more,  as  he  fought  for  his  national  glory, 
Nor  valued,  a  farthing,  the  RIGHT  of  the  ftory. 

This  famous  great  man,  and  two  birds*  of  his  feather, 
In  the  Cerberus  frigate  came  over  together ; 

*  Generals  Howe  and  Burgoyne. 


ON    SIR    HENRY    CLINTON'S    RECALL.  187 

But  of  all  the  bold  chiefs  that  re-meafure  the  trip, 
Nor  two  have  been  known  to  return  in  one  {hip. 

Like  children  that  wreftle  and  fcuffle  in  fport, 
They  are  very  well  pleas'd  as  long  as  unhurt, 
But  a  thump  on  the  nofe,  or  a  blow  in  the  eye, 
Ends  the  fray — and  they  go  to  their  daddy  and  cry. 

Sir  Clinton,  thy  deeds  have  been  mighty  and  many, 
You  faid  all  our  paper  was  not  worth  a  penny, 
('Tis  nothing  but  rags,*  quoth  honeft  Will  Tryon, 
Are  rags  to  difcourage  the  Sons  of  the  Lion  ?) 

But  Clinton  thought  thus — "  It  is  folly  to  fight, 
"  When  things  may  by  eafier  methods  come  right, 
u  There  is  fuch  an  art  as  counterfeit-ation — 
"  And  I'll  do  my  utmoft  to  honour  our  nation  ; 

"  I'll  (hew  this  damn'd  country  that  I  can  enfiave  her, 
"  And  that  by  the  help  of  a  fkilful  engraver, 

"  And  then  let  the  rebels  take  care  of  their  bacon, 

"We'll  play  them  a  trick,  or  I'm  vaftly  miftaken." 

But  the  project  fucceeded  not  quite  to  your  liking, 

So  you  paid  off  your  artift,  and  gave  up  BILL  STRIKING; 

But  'tis  an  affair  I  am  glad  you  are  quit  on, 

Yet  had  surely  been  hang'd  had  you  try'd  it  in  Britain, 

*  See  his  Letter  to  General  Parfons. 


i88 


At  the  taking  of  Charlefton  you  cut  a  great  figure, 
The  terms  you  propounded  were  terms  full  of  rigour, 
Yet  could  not  forefee  poor  CHARLEY'S*  difgrace, 
Nor  how  foon  your  oWh  COLOURS  would  go  to  the  CASE. 

When  the  town  had  furrender'd,  the  more  to  difgrace  ye, 
(Like  another  true  Briton  that  did  it  at  'Statia) 
You  broke  all  the  terms  yourfelf  had  extended, 
Becaufe  you  fuppos'd  the  rebellion  was  ended  ; 

Whoever  the  tories  mark'd  out  as  a  whig, 

If  gentle,  or  fimple,  or  little,  or  big, 

No  matter  to  you — to  kill  'em  and  fpite  'em, 

You  foon  had  'em  up  where  the  dogs  couldn't  bite  'em. 

Then  thinking  thefe  rebels  were  fnug  and  fecure, 
You  left  them  to  Rawdon  and  Nefbit  Balfour  ; 
(The  face  of  the  latter  no  maflc  need  be  draw'd  on, 
And  to  fi(h  for  the  Devil  my  bait  fhould  be  Rawdon.) 

Returning  to  York  with  your  (hips  and  your  plunder, 
And  boafting  that  rebels  muft  fhortly  knock  under, 
The  firft  thing  that  ftruck  you  as  foon  as  you  landed 
Was  the  fortrefs  at  Weft-Point,  where  Arnold  commanded. 

Thought  you,  "  If  friend  Arnold  this  fort  will  deliver, 
u  We  then  (hall  be  mafters  of  all  Hudfon's  river, 

*  Cornwallis. 


189 


"The  eafl  and  \hzfouth  lofing  communication, 
"  The  Yankies  will  die  by  the  Act  of  Starvation" 


So  off  you  fent  Andre  (not  guided  by  Pallas) 
Who  foon  purchas'd  Arnold,  and  with  him  the  gallows  ; 
Your  lofs  I  conceive  than  your  gain  was  far  greater, 
You  loft  a  good  fellow,  and  got  a  vile  traitor. 

Now  Carleton  comes  over  to  give  you  relief, 
A  knight  like  yourfelf,  and  commander  in  chief. 
But  the  chief 'he  will  get,  you  may  tell  the  dear  honey, 
Will  be  a  black  eye,  hard  knocks,  and  no  money. 

Now  with — u  Britons,  ftrike  home  !"  your  forrows  difpel, 

Away  to  your  mafter,  and  honeftly  tell 

That  his  arms  and  his  artifts  can  nothing  avail, 

His  men  are  too  few,  and  his  tricks  are  too  ftale. 

Advife  him  at  length  to  be  juft  and  fincere  ; 
Of  which  not  a  fymptom  as  yet  doth  appear, 
As  we  plainly  perceive  from  his  fending  Sir  Guy 
The  TREATY  to  break  with  our  gallic  ally. 


SIR    GUY  CARLETON'S    ADDRESS    TO    THE 
AMERICANS.* 

Tj^ROM  Britain's  fam'd  ifland  once  more  I  come  over, 

(No  ifland  on  earth  is  in  prowefs  above  her) 
With  powers  and  commiflions  your  hearts  to  recover  ! 

Our  king,  I  muft  tell  you,  is  plagu'd  with  a  phantom 
(Independence  they  call  it)  that  hourly  doth  haunt  him, 
And  relief,  my  dear  rebels,  you  only  can  grant  him. 

Tom  Gage  and  Sir  Harry,  Sir  William,  (our  boaft) 
Lord  Howe,  and  the  reft  that  have  fcouted  the  coaft, 
All  fail'd  in  their  projects  of  laying  this  ghoft  : 

So  unlefs  the  damn'd  fpeclre  myfclf  can  expel 
It  will  yet  kill  our  monarch,  I  know  very  well, 
And  gallop  him  off  on  his  lion  to  hell. 

*  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  "  Commander-in-chief  of  his  Majcfty's  forces,  and  Com- 
miflioncr  for  making  peace  or  war  in  North  America,"  to  follow  the  announce 
ment  of  Rivington's  Gazette,  arrived  at  New  York,  as  the  fucceiTbr  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  in  the  Ceres  man-of-war,  Captain  Hawkins,  on  Sunday,  May  5,  1782. 
He  remained  in  the  city  till  the  conclufion  of  peace,  leaving,  with  his  troops,  on 
the  *5th  of  November  of  the  following  year.  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  1714. 
Frevioufly  to  the  American  Revolution  he  had  feen  much  fervice,  having  diftin- 
guifhed  himfelf  at  the  fieges  of  Louifburg  and  Quebec.  He  was  wounded  in 
1762,  at  the  ficge  of  Havannah.  In  1771  he  was  Governor  of  Quebec.  He 
died  in  1808. 


CARLETON'S  ADDRESS  TO  THE  AMERICANS.         191 

But  I  heartily  wifh,  that,  inftead  of  Sir  Guy, 
They  had  fent  out  a  feer  from  the  ifland  of  Skie, 
Who  rebels,  and  devils,  and  ghofts  could  defy  : 

So  great  is  our  profpeft  of  failing  at  laft, 

When  I  look  at  the  prefent,  and  think  of  the  paft, 

I  wifh  with  our  heroes  I  had  not  been  claffed  ; 

For  though,  to  a  man,  we  are  bullies  and  bruifers, 
And  cover'd  with  laurels,  we  ftill  are  the  lofers, 
'Till  each  is  recall'd  with  his  tory  accufers  : 

But  the  war  now  is  alter'd,  and  on  a  new  plan  ; 
By  negociation  we'll  do  what  we  can — 
And  I  am  an  honeft,  well-meaning  old  man  ; 

Too  proud  to  retreat,  and  too  weak  to  advance, 
We  muft  flay  where  we  are,  at  the  mercy  of  chance, 
'Till  Fortune  fhall  help  us  to  lead  you  a  dance. 

Then  lay  down  your  arms,  dear  rebels — O  hone  ! 
Our  king  is  the  beft  man  that  ever  was  known, 
And  the  greateft  that  ever  was  ftuck  on  a  throne  ; 

His  love  and  affe&ion  by  all  ranks  are  fought ; 
Here  take  him,  my  honies,  and  each  pay  a  groat — 
Was  ever  a  monarch  more  eafily  bought  ? 

In  pretty  good  cafe,  and  very  well  found, 

By  night  and  by  day  we  carry  him  round  ; 

He  muft  go  for  a  groat,  if  we  can't  get  a  pound. 


192        CARLETON'S  ADDRESS  TO  THE  AMERICANS. 

Break  the  treaties  you  made  with  Louis  BOURBON  ! 
Abandon  the  Congrefs,  no  matter  how  foon, 
And  then,  all  together,  we'll  play  a  new  tune. 

'Tis  ftrange  that  they  always  would  manage  the  roail, 
And  force  you  their  healths  and  the  Dauphin's  to  toaft; 
Repent,  my  dear  fellows,  and  each  get  a  pofl  : 

Or,  if  you  object  that  one  pofl  is  too  few, 
We  generous  Britons  will  help  you  to  two 
With  a  beam  laid  acrofs — that  will  certainly  do. 

The  folks  that  rebell'd  in  the  year  forty-five, 

We  us'd  them  fo  well,  that  we  left  few  alive, 

But  fent  them  to  heaven  in  fwarms  from  their  hive. 

Your  noble  refiftance  we  cannot  forget, 

'Tis  nothing  but  right  we  fhould  honour  you  yet  j 

If  you  are  not  rewarded,  we  die  in  your  debt. 

So,  quickly  fubmit,  and  our  mercy  implore, 
Be  as  loyal  to  George  as  you  once  were  before, 
Or  I'll  (laughter  you  all — and  probably  more. 

What  puzzled  Sir  Harry,  Sir  Will,  and  his  brother, 

Perhaps  may  be  done  by  the  fon  of  my  mother, 

With  the  Sword  in  one  hand  and  a  Branch  in  the  other. 

My  bold  predeceflbrs  (as  fitting  their  ftation) 

At  their  firft  coming  out,  all  fpoke  PROCLAMATION  ; 

'Tis  the  cuftom  with  us,  and  the  way  of  our  nation. 


CARLETON  S    ADDRESS    TO    THE    AMERICANS  193 

Then  Kil-al-la-loo  !— Shelaly,  I  fay  ;— 

If  we  cannot  all  fight,  we  can  all  run  away — 

And  further  at  prefent  I  choofe  not  to  fay. 

[1782.] 

'3 


MODERN  IDOLATRY,  OR  ENGLISH  QUIXOTISM. 

AyTY  native  fhades  delight  no  more, 
I  hafle  to  meet  the  ocean's  roar, 
I  feek  a  wild  rebellious  (hore 
Beyond  the  Atlantic  main  : 

'Tis  honour  calls  ! — I  muft  away  ! — 
Nor  eafe  nor  pleafure  tempts  my  flay, 
Nor  all  that  Love  himfelf  can  fay, 
A  moment  (hall  detain. 

To  meet  thofe  hofts  that  dare  difown 
Allegiance  to  Britannia's  throne 
I  draw  the  fword  that  pities  none, 
I  draw  their  rebel  blood  ; 

Amazement  fhall  their  troops  confound 
When  gafping,  proftrate  on  the  ground, 
My  fword  (hall  drink  from  every  wound 
A  life  deftroying  flood  ! 

The  fwarthy  Indian,  yet  unbroke, 
Shall  bend  his  neck  to  Britain's  yoke, 


MODERN    IDOLATRY,    OR    ENGLISH    QUIXOTISM.          195 

Or  flee  from  her  avenging  ftroke 
To  defarts  yet  unknown  ; 

The  Atlantic  ifles  (hall  own  her  fway, 
Peru  and  Mexico  obey, 
And  thofe  who  yet  to  Satan  pray 
Beyond  the  fouthern  zone. 

For  George  the  third  I  dare  to  go 
Through  Etna's  fire  and  Greenland's  fnow, 
Where'er  our  kindred  waters  flow, 
The  vaft  unbounded  main. 

In  him  true  glory  mines  complete, 
In  him  a  thoufand  virtues  meet — 
'Twere  heaven  to  die  at  George's  feet. 
Could  I  that  bleffing  gain  ! 

For  George  the  third  I  dare  to  fall, 
Since  he  to  me  is  all  in  all — 
May  he  fubdue  this  earthly  ball, 
And  nations  tribute  bring  ; — 

Yon'  rebel  States  mall  wear  his  chain 
Where  traitors  now  with  tyrants  reign — 
And  fubjecl:  mail  be  all  the  main 
To  George  our  potent  king. 

When  honour  calls  to  guard  his  throne, 
My  life  I  dare  not  call  my  own — 


196         MODERN    IDOLATRY,    OR    ENGLISH    QUIXOTISM. 

My  life  I  yield,  without  a  groan, 
For  him  whom  I  adore  : 

In  endlefs  glory  he  (hall  reign — 
'Tis  he  (hall  conquer  France  and  Spain — 
Though  I  perphaps  may  ne'er  again 
Behold  my  native  (bore  ! 

EPILOGUE 

'TIS  fo  well  known  'tis  hardly  worth  relating 
That  men  have  worfhipp'd  gods,  though  of  their  own  crea 
ting  ; 

Art's  handy  work  they  thought  they  might  adore, 
And  bow'd  to  gods  that  were  but  logs  before. 

Idols,  of  old,  were  made  of  clay  or  wood, 

And,  in  themfelves,  did  neither  harm  nor  good, 

AcEted  as  though  they  knew  the  good  old  rule, 

11  Friend,  hold  thy  peace,  and  you'll  be  thought  no  fool." 

Britons  !  their  cafe  is  yours — and  link'd  in  fate 
You,  like  your  Indian  allies — good  and  great — 
Bow  to  fome  frowning  block  yourfelves  did  rear, 
And  worfhip  wooden  monarch* — out  of  fear — 


ON  GENERAL  ROBERTSON'S  PROCLAMATION.* 


f~\ 


Judas  the  traitor  (nor  need  we  much  wonder) 
Falling  down  from  the  gallows,  his  paunch  fplit  afunder, 
Affording,  'tis  likely,  a  horrible  fcent 
Rather  worfe  than  the  fulphur  of  hell,  where  he  went. 

*  The  following  proclamation,  dated  New  York,  June  a2,  1782,  appeared  in 
Rivington's  Royal  Gazette  of  the  26th  of  that  month,  furmounted  by  the  Royal 
Arms  :  —  "  By  His  Excellency  Lieutenant-General  JAMES  ROBERTSON,  Governor 
of  Netv  York,  &c.,  &c.  The  Commander-in-Chief  having  fhown  the  great  con 
fidence  he  repofes  in  the  Citizens  of  New  York  by  trufting  his  Majefty's  intereft 
there,  to  their  Zeal,  Loyalty,  and  Gallantry,  I  perfuade  myfelf  that  every  citizen 
will  with  alacrity  claim  his  title  to  a  fhare  of  the  Militia  duty  ;  that  none  may 
be  deprived  of  this,  and  that  thofe  whofe  zeal  would  lead  them  to  appear  when 
ever  called  for,  may  not  be  called  for  too  often,  I  think  proper  to  declare  : 

"That  all  perfons  are  to  perform  the  Militia  duty,  excepting  the  Minifters  of 
God's  Word,  his  Majefty's  Counfellors  and  principal  fervants  whofe  avocations 
to  religious  and  civil,  neceflarily  prevents  their  attendance  on  Military  duties. 

"  All  perfons  who  from  age  or  infirmity  are  unable  to  adl,  may  do  duty  by 
fubftitutes,  providing  thofe  they  offer  are  judged  fufficient  by  the  Colonel  of  the 
regiment,  or  commanding  officer  of  the  corps  to  which  they  belong. 

"  If  any  of  the  Gentlemen  of  the  learned  profeflions  find  themfelves  fo  ufe- 
fully  employed  as  to  be  induced  to  avoid  the  honour  of  appearing  in  perfon,  they 
are  fuppofed  to  be  judges  of  the  importance  of  their  own  time,  and  may  a&  by 
proper  fubftitutes. 

"  As  no  perfon  deferves  protection  in  a  place  of  which  he  refufes  to  contribute 
to  the  defence  ;  every  perfon  who  refufes  to  appear  when  fummoned  to  his  Mili 
tia  duty  is  to  be  confined  in  the  Main-Guard  by  the  Colonel  or  commanding 
Officer  of  the  corps  to  which  he  belongs,  where  he  is  to  be  kept  till  further 
orders." 


198  ON    GENERAL    ROBERTSON'S    PROCLAMATION. 

So  now  this  bra*  chieftain,  who  long  has  fufpended 
And  kept  out  of  view,  what  his  mafter  intended, 
Burfts  out  all  at  once,  and  an  infide  difclofes, 
Difgufting  the  tories,  who  ftop  up  their  nofes. 

The  mort  of  the  matter  is  this,  as  I  take  it — 
New  York  of  true  Britons  is  plainly  left  naked, 
And  their  conduct  amounts  to  an  honeft  confeflion, 
They  cannot  depend  on  the  run-a-way  Hefllan. 

In  fuch  a  dilemma,  pray  what  fhould  they  do  ? 
Hearts  loyal,  to  whom  (hould  they  look  but  to  You  ? — 
You  know  pretty  well  how  to  handle  the  fpade, 
To  dig  their  canals,  and  to  make  a  parade  ; 

The  city  is  left  to  your  valiant  defence, 

And,  of  courfe,  it  will  be  but  of  little  expence, 

Since  there  is  an  old  fellow  that  looks  fomewhat  sooty 

Who,  grati^  will  help  you  in  doing  your  duty — 

"  In  doing  our  duty  ! — 'tis  duty  indeed 
"  (Says  a  Tory)  if  this  be  the  way  that  we  fpeed  ; 
"  We  never  lov'd  fighting,  the  matter  is  clear — 
41  If  we  had,  I  am  fure,  we  had  never  come  here. 

"  George  we  own'd  for  our  king,  as  his  true  loyal  fons, 
11  But  why  will  he  force  us  to  manage  his  guns  ?— 
"Who  'lift  in  the  army  or  cruife  on  the  wave, 
"  Let  them  do  as  they  will — 'tis  their  trade  to  be  brave. 


ON    GENERAL    ROBERTSON'S    PROCLAMATION.  ,199 

u  Guns,  mortars,  and  bullets,  we  eafily  face, 
"  But  when  they're  in  motion — it  alters  the  cafe  ; 
"  To  fkirmifti  with  HUDDIES*  is  all  our  defire — 
"  For  though  we  can  murder,  we  cannot  Jl and  fire. 

"  To  the  ftandards  of  Britain  we  fled  for  protection, 
"And  here  we  are  gather'd,  a  goodly  collection  ; 
"  And  moft  of  us  think  it  is  rather  too  hard 
"  For  refufing  to  arm,  to  be  put  under  guard ; 

"  Who  knows  under  guard  what  ills  we  may  feel ! — 
lt  It  is  an  expreilion  that  means  a  great  deal — 
"  'Mongft  the  rebels  they  fine  'em  who  will  not  turn  out, 
"  But  here  we  are  left  in  a  forrowful  doubt — 

"  Thefe  Britons  were  always  fo  fharp  and  fo  fnifty 

"  The  rebels  excufe  you  from  ferving,  when  fifty, 

cc  But  here  we  are  counted  fuch  wonderful  men 

"  We  are  kept  in  the  ranks,  'till  we're  four  fcore  and  ten. 

"  Kick'd,  cuff'd,  and  ill-treated  from  morning  'till  night — 
"  We  have  room  to  conjecture,  that  all  is  not  right : 
"  For  FREEDOM,  we  fled  from  our  country's  defence, 
'  "  And  freedom  we'll  get — when  death  fends  us  hence. 

"  If  matters  go  thus,  it  is  eafy  to  fee 

u  That  as  idiots  we've  been,  fo  flaves  we  {hall  be  ; 

*  Captain  Huddy,  an  American  captain,  who,  after  capitulating  in  a  block- 
houfe,  was  hanged  by  refugees,  called  new  levies. — Author^  note. 


2OO  ON    GENERAL    ROBERTSON'S    PROCLAMATION. 

11  And  what  will  become  of  that  peaceable  train 
"  Whofe  tenets  enjoin  them  from  war  to  abstain  ? 

"  Our  city  commandant  muft  be  an  odd  (haver, 

"  Not  a  Tingle  exception  to  make  in  their  favour  ! — 

"  Come,  let  us  turn  round  and  rebellioujly  fing, 

"  Huzza  for  the  CONGRESS  ! — the  de'il  take  the  king." 

[,782.3 


ARNOLD'S    DEPARTURE.* 

Mala  foluta  navis  exit  alite 
Fcrens  olentem  Maevium,  &c. 

Imitated  from  Horace. 

TT7ITH  evil  omens  from  the  harbour  fails 

The  ill-fated  (hip  that  worthlefs  ARNOLD  bears, 
God  of  the  fouthern  winds,  call  up  thy  gales, 
And  whittle  in  rude  fury  round  his  ears. 

With  horrid  waves  infult  his  veflePs  fides, 
And  may  the  eaft  wind  on  a  leeward  fhore 

Her  cables  fnap,  while  fhe  in  tumult  rides, 
And  fhatter  into  fliivers  every  oar. 

And  let  the  north  wind  to  her  ruin  hafte, 

With  fuch  a  rage,  as  when  from  mountains  high 

He  rends  the  tall  oak  with  his  weighty  blaft, 
And  ruin  fpreads,  where'er  his  forces  fly. 

May  not  one  friendly  ftar  that  night  be  feen  ; 
No  Moon,  attendant,  dart  one  glimmering  ray, 

*  General  Arnold  failed  from  New  York,  with  his  family,  in  December,  1781. 
He  furvived  in  England  for  nearly  twenty  years,  dying  in  London  in  1801,  at  the 
age  of  fixty-one. 


2O2  ARNOLD'S  DEPARTURE. 

Nor  may  (he  ride  on  oceans  more  ferene 

Than  Greece,  triumphant,  found  that  ftormy  day, 

When  angry  Pallas  fpent  her  rage  no  more 
On  vanquifh'd  Ilium,  then  in  ames  laid, 

But  turn'd  it  on  the  barque  that  Ajax  bore,* 
Avenging  thus  her  temple,  and  the  maid. 

When  tofs'd  upon  the  vaft  Atlantic  main 

Your  groaning  {hip  the  fouthern  gales  fhall  tear, 

How  will  your  Tailors  fweat,  and  you  complain 
And  meanly  howl  to  Jove,  that  will  not  hear ! 

But  if,  at  laft,  upon  fome  winding  fhore 
A  prey  to  hungry  cormorants  you  lie, 

A  wanton  goat  to  every  ftormy  power,f 
And  a  fat  lamb,  in  facrifice,  fhall  die.J 
[ZX*.,  1782.] 

*  Ajax  the  younger,  Ton  of  Oileus,  king  of  the  Locrians.  He  debauched 
Caflandra  in  the  temple  of  Pallas,  which  was  the  caufe  of  his  misfortune,  on  his 
return  from  the  fiege  of  Troy. — Author* i  note. 

•}•  The  Tcmf>e/ls  were  God  JefTes  amongft  the  Romans. — Author^  rote 
\  This  is  a  clever  imitation  of  Horace's  Tenth  Epode,  "  In  Maevium  poet.im," 
the  foul  fatirift  whom  Virgil  has  commemorated  with  Bavius.  Freneau's  ren 
dering  is  quite  fkilful,  and  flinvs  his  fcholar's  appreciation  of  the  original.  The 
reader  may  be  plcafcd  to  compare  it  with  Theodore  Martin's  recent  dircdt  vcrfion 
of  the  ode  : — 

Foul  fall  the  day,  when  from  the  bay 

The  veflel  puts  to  fea, 
That  carries  Mzvius  away, 
That  wretch  unfavoury  ! 

Mind,  Aufter,  with  appalling  roar 

That  you  her  timbers  fcourge  ; 
Black  Eurus,  fnap  each  rope  and  oar 

With  the  o'crtoppling  furge  ! 


ARNOLD'S  DEPARTURE.  203 

Rife,  Aquilo,  as  when  the  far 

High  mountain-oaks  ye  rend  j 
When  (tern  Orion  fets,  no  ftar 

Its  friendly  luftrc  lend  ! 

Seethe,  ocean,  as  when  Pallas  turn'd 

Her  wrath  from  blazing  Troy 
On  impious  Ajax'  bark,  and  fpurn'd 

The  viftors  in  their  joy  ! 

I  fee  them  now,  your  wretched  crew, 

All  toiling  might  and  main, 
And  you,  with  blue  and  death-like  hue, 

Imploring  Jove  in  vain  ! 

"  Mercy,  O  Mercy  !  fpare  me,  pray  1" 

With  craven  moan  ye  call, 
When  founders  in  the  Ionian  bay 

Your  bark  before  the  fquall : 

But  if  your  corpfe  a  banquet  forms 

For  fea-birds,  I'll  devote 
Unto  the  powers  that  rule  the  ftormt 

A  lamb  and  liquorifli  goat. 


A  PICTURE  OF  THE  TIMES  -    WITH  OCCASIONAL 
REFLECTIONS. 

OTILL  round  the  world  triumphant  Difcord  flies. 

Still  angry  kings  to  bloody  conteft  rife  ; 
Hofts  bright  with  fteel,  in  dreadful  order  plac'd, 
And  fhips  contending  on  the  watery  wafte  ; 
Diftra&ing  demons  every  bread  engage, 
Unwearied  nations  glow  with  mutual  rage  ; 
Still  to  the  charge  the  routed  Briton  turns, 
The  war  ftill  rages  and  the  battle  burns  ; 
See,  man  with  man  in  deadly  combat  join, 
See,  the  black  navy  form  the  flaming  line ; 
Death  fmiles  alike  at  battles  loft  or  won — 
Art  does  for  him  what  Nature  would  have  done. 

Can  fcenes  like  thefe  delight  the  human  breaft  ? — 
Who  fees  with  joy  humanity  diftreft  ; 
Such  tragic  fcenes  fierce  paflion  might  prolong, 
But  flighted  Reafon  fays,  they  muft  be  wrong. 

Curs'd  be  the  day,  how  bright  foe'er  it  fhin'd, 
That  firft  made  kings  the  mafters  of  mankind  ; 
And  curs'd  the  wretch  who  firft  with  regal  pride 
Their  equal  rights  to  equal  men  dcny'd  ; 
But  curs'd,  o'er  all,  who  firft  to  flavery  broke, 


A    PICTURE    OF    THE    TIMES.  2O5 

Submiflive  bow'd,  and  own'd  a  monarch's  yoke  : 

Their  fervile  fouls  his  arrogance  ador'd 

And  bafely  own'd  a  brother  for  a  lord  ; 

Hence  wrath,  and  blood,  and  feuds,  and  wars  began, 

And  man  turn'd  monfter  to  his  fellow-man. 

Not  fo  that  age  of  innocence  and  eafe 
When  men,  yet  focial,  knew  no  ills  like  thefe  ; 
Then  Dormant  yet,  Ambition  (half  unknown) 
No  rival  murder'd  to  poflefs  a  throne  ; 
No  feas  to  guard,  no  empires  to  defend — 
Of  fome  fmall  tribe  the  father  and  the  friend, 
The  hoary  fage  beneath  his  fylvan  made 
Impos'd  no  laws  but  thofe  which  reafon  made  ; 
On  peace,  not  war ;  on  good,  not  ill,  intent, 
He  judg'd  his  brethren  by  their  own  confent ; 
Untaught  to  fpurn  thofe  brethren  to  the  duft ; 
In  virtue  firm,  and  obftinately  juft, 
For  him  no  navies  rov'd  from  more  to  more, 
No  flaves  were  doom'd  to  dig  the  glitt'ring  ore  ; 
Remote  from  all  the  vain  parade  of  ftate, 
No  flaves  in  fcarlet  faunter'd  at  his  gate, 
Nor  did  his  breaft  the  angry  paflions  tear, 
He  knew  no  murder,  and  he  felt  no  fear. 

Was  this  the  patriarch  fage  ? — Then  turn  thine  eyes 
And  view  the  contraft  that  our  age  fupplies  ; 
Touch'd  from  the  life,  we  trace  no  ages  fled, 
We  draw  no  curtain  that  conceals  the  dead  ; 
To  diftant  Britain  let  thy  view  be  caft, 
And  fay,  the  prefent  far  exceeds  the  paft  j 


2O6  A    PICTURE    OF    THE    TIMES. 

Of  all  the  plagues  that  e'er  the  world  have  curs'd, 
Name  George,  the  tyrant,  and  you  name  the  worft  ! 

What  demon,  hoftile  to  the  human  kind, 
Planted  thefe  fierce  diforders  in  the  mind  ? 
All,  urg'd  alike,  one  phantom  we  purfue, 
But  what  has  war  with  human  kind  to  do  ? 
In  death's  black  fhroud  our  blifs  can  ne'er  be  found  ; 
'Tis  madnefs  aims  the  life-deftroying  wound, 
Sends  fleets  and  armies  to  thefe  ravag'd  (hores, 
Plots  conftant  ruin,  and  no  peace  reftores. 

O  dire  Ambition  ! — thee  thefe  horrors  fuit : 
Loft  to  the  human,  fhe  afTumes  the  brute  ; 
She,  proudly  vain,  or  infolently  bold, 
Her  heart  revenge,  her  eye  intent  on  gold, 
Sway'd  by  the  madnefs  of  the  prefent  hour 
Lays  worlds  in  ruin  for  extent  of  power ; 
That  (hining  bait,  which  dropt  in  folly's  way 
Tempts  the  weak  mind,  and  leads  the  heart  aftray . 

Thou  Happinefs  !  ftill  fought  but  never  found, 
We,  in  a  circle,  chace  thy  fhadow  round  ; 
Meant  all  mankind  in  different  forms  to  blefs, 
Which,  yet  poflefling,  we  no  more  poflefs : 
Thus  far  remov'd  and  painted  on  the  eye 
Smooth  verdant  fields  feem  blended  with  the  fky, 
But  where  they  both  in  fancied  contact  join 
In  vain  we  trace  the  vifionary  line  ; 
Still,  as  we  chace,  the  empty  circle  flies, 
Emerge  new  mountains,  or  new  oceans  rife. 

[.782.] 


PRINCE   WILLIAM    HENRY'S   SOLILOQUY. 

[Occafioned  by  the  Public  Rejoicings  in  Philadelphia  for  the  birth  of  the  Dau 
phin  of  France,  fon  to  Louis  XVI.] 

T)EOPLE  are  mad,  thus  to  adore  the  Dauphin — 

Heaven  grant  the  brat  may  foon  be  in  his  coffin — 
The  honours  here  to  this  young  Frenchman  fliown, 
Of  right,  (hould  be  Prince  George's  or  my  own  ; 
And  all  thofe  wreathes,  that  bloom  on  Louis  now, 
Should  hang,  unfading,  on  my  father's  brow. 

To  thefe  far  (bores  with  longing  hopes  I  came, 
(By  birth  a  Briton,  not  unknown  to  fame) 
Pleafures  to  fhare  that  loyalty  imparts, 
Subdue  the  rebels,  and  regain  their  hearts. 

Weak,  ftupid  expectation — all  is  done  ! 
Few  are  the  prayers  that  rife  for  George's  fon  ! 
Nought  through  the  wafte  of  thefe  wide  realms  I  trace, 
But  rage,  contempt,  and  curfes  on  our  race, 
Hofts,  with  their  chiefs,  by  bold  ufurpers  won,   & 
And  not  a  blefling  left  for  George's  fon  ! 

Here  on  thefe  ifles*  (my  terrors  not  a  few) 
I  walk  attended  by  an  exil'd  crew : 

*  New  York  and  the  neighbouring  iflands. 


2O8  PRINCE    WILLIAM    HENRY'S    SOLILOQUY. 

Thefe  from  the  firft  have  done  their  beft  to  pleafe, 

But  who  would  herd  with  fycophants  like  thefc  ? 

This  vagrant  race,  who  their  loft  fhorcs  bemoan, 

Would  bow  to  Satan,  if  he  held  our  throne — 

Rul'd  by  their  fears — and  what  is  meaner  far, 

Have  worfhipp'd  William  only  for  his  STAR  ! 

To  touch  my  hand  their  thronging  thoufands  ftrove, 

And  tir'd  my  patience  with  unceafing  love — 

In  fame's  fair  annals  told  me  I  fhould  live, 

And,  a  FOURTH  WILLIAM,  to  late  times  arrive  ; 

Muft  Digby's  royal  pupil  walk  the  ftreets, 

And  fmile  on  every  ruffian  that  he  meets  ; 

Or  teach  them,  as  he  has  done — he  knows  when — 

That  kings  and  princes  are  no  more  than  men  ! 

Muft  I,  alas  !   difclofe,  to  our  difgrace, 
That  Britain  is  too  fmall  for  George's  race  ? 
Here  in  the  weft,  where  all  did  once  obey, 
Three  ijlands  only,  now,  confefs  our  fway  ; 
And  in  the  eaji  we  have  not  much  to  boaft, 
For  HYDER  ALI  drives  us  from  that  coaft  : — 
Yield,  rebels,  yield — or  I  muft  go  once  more 
Back  to  the  white  cliffs  of  my  native  fhore  ; 
(Where,  in  procefs  of  time,  mail  go  Sir  GUY,* 
And  where  Sir  HARRY  has  return'd  to  figh, 
Whofe  hands  grew  weak  when  things  began  to  crofs, 
Nor  made  one  effort  to  retrieve  our  lofs) 
Oatmeal  and  Scottifti  kale-pots  round  me  rife, 

*  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  who  had  fucceeded  Sir  Henry  Clinton  at  New  York. 


PRINCE    WILLIAM    HENRY'S    SOLILOQUY.  2O() 

And  Hanoverian  turnips  greet  mine  eyes  •, — 

Welch  goats  and  naked  rocks  my  bofom  fwell, 

And  Teague  !   dear  Teague  ! — to  thee  I  bid  farewell — 

Curfe  on  the  Dauphin  and  his  friends,  I  fay, 
He  fteals  our  honours  and  our  rights  away. 
DIGBY  ! — our  anchors  ! — weigh  them  to  the  bow, 
And  eaftward  through  the  wild  waves  let  us  plough  : 
Such  dire  refentments  in  my  bofom  burn, 
That  to  thefe  fhores  I  never  will  return, 
'Till  fruits  and  flowers  on  Zembla's  coafts  are  known, 
And  feas  congeal  beneath  the  torrid  zone  ! 

[1782.] 


BEELZEBUB'S  REMONSTRANCE. 

(On  a  late  Rivingtonian  Apology  for  LYING  ) 

"\7"OUR  golden  dreams,  your  flattenng  fchemes, 

Alas  !  where  are  they  fled,  Sir  ? 
Your  plans  derang'd,  your  profpe&s  chang'd, 
You  now  may  go  to  bed,  Sir.— 

How  could  you  thus,  impell'd  by  fear, 
Give  up  the  hopes  of  many  a  year  ?— 
Your  fame  retriev'd,  and  foaring  high 
In  TRUTH'S  refemblance  feem'd  to  fly : 
But  now  you  grow  fo  wondrous  wife, 
You  turn,  and  own  that  all  is — lies. 

A  fabric  that  from  hell  was  rais'd, 
On  which  aftonifti'd  rebels  gaz'd, 
And  which  the  world  fhall  ne'er  forget, 
No  lefs  than  RIVINGTON'S  GAZETTE, 
Demolifh'd  at  a  fingle  ftroke — 
The  angel  Gabriel  might  provoke. 

"  That  all  was  lies,"  might  well  be  true, 
But  why  muft  this  be  told  by  you  ? 


BEELZEBUB'S  REMONSTRANCE.  211 

Great  mafter  of  the  fcheming  head, 
Where  is  thy  wonted  cunning  fled  ? 
It  was  a  folly  to  engage 
That  truth  henceforth  Jhould  fill  your  page ; 
When  you  muft  know,  as  well  as  I, 
Your  firft  great  object  is — to  LIE. 

Your  fortune  was  as  good  as  made, 
Great  artift  in  the  fibbing  trade  ! 
But  now  I  fee,  with  grief  and  pain, 
Your  credit  cannot  rife  again : 
No  more  the  favorite  of  my  heart, 
No  more  will  I  my  gifts  impart. 

Yet  fomething  {hall  you  gain  at  laft 
For  lies  contriv'd  in  feafons  paft — 
When  prefling  to  the  narrow  gate 
I'll  fhow  the  portal  mark'd  by  fate, 
Where  all  mankind,  as  preachers  fay, 
Are  apt  to  take  the  wider  way, 
And  though  the  ROYAL  Printer  fwear, 
Will  bolt  him  in,  and  keep  him  there  ! 

BEELZEBUB. 

[1782.1 


THE    REFUGEES'    PETITION    TO   SIR    GUY 
CARLETON. 

Humbly  Sheweth, 

'HpHAT  your  Honour's  petitioners,  Tories  by  trade, 

From  the  firft  of  the  war  have  lent  Britain  their  aid, 
And  done  all  they  could,  both  in  country  and  town, 
In  fupport  of  the  king  and  the  rights  of  his  crown  ; 
But,  now  to  their  grief  and  confufion,  they  find 
"The  de'il  may  take  them  who  are  fartheft  behind." 

In  the  rear  of  all  rafcals  they  ftill  have  been  plac'd 
And  Rebels  and  Frenchmen  full  often  have  fac'd, 
Have  been  in  the  midft  of  diftrefTes  and  doubt 
Whene'er  they  came  in  or  whene'er  they  went  out ; 
Have  fupported  the  king  and  defended  his  church^ 
And  now,  in  the  end,  muft  be  left  in  the  lurch. 

Though  often,  too  often,  his  arms  were  difgrac'd, 
We  ftill  were  in  hopes  he  would  conquer  at  laft, 
And  reftorc  us  again  to  our  fweethcarts  and  wives, 
The  pride  of  our  hearts  and  the  joy  of  our  lives — 
But  he  promis'd  too  far,  and  we  trufted  too  jnuch, 
And  who  could  have  look'd  for  a  war  with  the  Dutch  ? 


THE  REFUGEES'  PETITION.  213 

Our  board  broken  up,  and  difcharg'd  from  our  ftations, 

Sir  Guy  !   it  is  cruel  to  cut  off  our  rations ; 

Of  a  project,  like  that,  whoe'er  was  the  mover, 

It  is,  we  muft  tell  you,  a  fneaking  manoeuvre  •, 

A  plan  to  deftroy  us — the  bafeft  of  tricks 

By  means  of  ftarvation,  a  ftigma  to  fix. 

If  a  peace  be  intended,  as  people  furmife, 

(Though  we  hope  from  our  fouls  thefe  are  nothing  but  lies) 

Inform  us  at  once  what  we  have  to  expect, 

Nor  treat  us,  as  ufual,  with  furly  neglect ; 

Or,  elfe,  while  you  Britons  are  (hipping  your  freights, 

We'll  go  to  the  Rebels,  and  get  our  ejlates. — 

SIR     GU  Y'S     ANSWER. 

have  reafon  to  think  there  will  foon  be  a  peace, 
And  that  war  with  the  Rebels  will  certainly  ceafe ; 
But,  be  that  as  it  will,  I  would  have  you  to  know 
That  as  matters  are  changing,  we  foon  may  change  too  ; 
In  fhort,  I  would  fay,  (fince  I  have  it  at  heart) 
Though  the  war  fhould  continue,  yet  we  may  depart. 

Four  offers  in  feafon  I  therefore  propofe, 

(As  much  as  I  can  do  in  reafon,  God  knows) 

In  which,  though  there  be  not  too  plentiful  carving, 

There  ftill  is  fufficient  to  keep  you  from  ftarving. 

And,  firft,  of  the  firft,  it  would  mightily  charm  me 
To  fee  you,  my  children,  enllft  in  the 


214  SIR    GUY'S    ANSWER. 

Or  enter  the  navy,  and  get  for  your  pay 
A  farthing  an  hour,  which  \sfixpence  per  day — 
There's  He&or  Clackmannan,  and  Arthur  O'Gregor 
And  Donald  M'Donald  fhall  rule  you  with  vigour  : 

If  thefe  do  not  fuit  you,  then  take  your  new  plan, 
Mak e  your  peace  with  the  rebels  (march  off,  to  a  man  :) 
There  rank  and  diftin&ion  perhaps  you  may  find 

And  rife  into  offices  fit  to  your  mind 

But  if  ftill  you  object — I  advife  you  to  take  a 
Farewell  of  New-York — and  away  to  'Jamaica. 


R  I  V    'N  G  T  O  N'S     REFLECTIONS.* 

I. 

'  I  *H'EV  more  I  reflect,  the  more  plain  it  appears, 

if"  1  ftay,  I  muft  ftay  at  the  rifque  of  my  ears, 
I  have  fo  be-pepper'd  the  foes  of  our  throne, 
Be-rebel'd,  be-devil'd,  and  told  them  their  own, 
That  if  we  give  up  to  thefe  rebels  at  laft, 
'Tis  a  chance  if  my  ears  will  atone  for  the  paft. 

'Tis  always  the  beft  to  provide  for  the  worft — 
So  evacuation  I'll  mention  the  firft  : 
If  Carleton  fhould  fail  for  our  dear  native  fhore 
(As  Clinton,  Cornwallis,  and  Howe  did  before) 
And  take  off  the  foldiers  that  ferve  for  our  guard, 
(A  ftep  that  the  Tories  would  think  rather  hard) 
Yet -frill  I  furmife,  for  aught  I  can  fee, 
No  Congrefs  or  Senates  would  meddle  with  me. 

*  The  firft  part  of  this  poem  was  rrpublifhed  in  the  Royal  Gazette,  at  New 
York,  of  December  14,  1782,  with  the  following  introduction  : — "Mr.  Riving- 
ton,  having  been  applied  to  by  many  Gentlemen  for  a  pleafant  publication  refpedl- 
ing  himfelf,  exhibited  in  the  Philadelphia  Freeman**  Journal,  of  December  4th, 
takes  leave  to  copy  it  into  this  Day's  Gazette,  and  allures  the  Author  that  a 
Column  fhall  at  any  time  be  moft  cheerfully  referved  to  convey  that  Gentleman's 
Jively  Lucubrations  to  the  Public."  The  original  publication  of  the  "  Reflec 
tions"  had  the  motto  from  Virgil:  Inclufus paenam  expetfat. 


216 


For,  what  have  I  done,  when  we  come  to  confider, 
Hut  fold  my  commodities  to  the  beft  bidder  ? 
If  I  offer'd  to  lie  for  the  fake  of  a  poft, 
Was  I  to  be  blam'd  if  the  king  offer'd  moft? 

The  King's  Royal  Printer  ! — Five  hundred  a  year  ! 

Between  you  and  me,  'twas  a  handfome  affair  : 
Who  would  not  for  that  give  matters  a  ftretch 
And  lie  back  and  forward,  and  carry  and  fetch. 
iMay  have  fome  pretenfions  to  honour  and  fame  : — 
out  what  are  they  both  but  the  found  of  a  name, 
Mere  words  to  deceive  us,  as  I  have  found  long  fince, 
Live  on  them  a  week,  and  you'll  find  them  but  nonfenfe. 

The  late  news  from  Charlefton  my  mind  has  perplext, 
If  that  is  abandon'd, — I  know  what  goes  next : 
Th's  city  of  YORK,  is  a  place  of  great  note, 
And  that  we  fhould  hold  it  I  now  give  my  vote  ; 
But  what  are  our  votes  againft  Shelburne's  decrees  ? 
Thefe  people  at  helm  fleer  us  juft  where  they  pleafe, 
So  often  they've  had  us  all  hands  on  the  brink, 
They'll  fteer  us  at  laft  to  the  devil,  I  think. 
And  though  in  the  danger  thcmfelves  have  a  {hare, 
It  will  do  us  fmall  good  that  they  alfo  go  there. 

It  is  true  that  the  Tories,  their  children,  and  wives 
Have  offer'd  to  ftay,  at  the.  rifque  of  their  lives, 
And  gain  to  themfelves  an  immortal  renown 
By  ALL  turning  foldiers,  and  keeping  the  town  : 
Whoe'er  was  the  Tory  that  ftruck  out  the  plan, 
In  my  humble  conceit,  was  a  very  good  man  : 
But  our  words  on  this  fubjed-t  need  be  very  few — 


RIVINGTON'S  REFLECTIONS.  217 

Already  I  fee  that  it  never  will  do  : 

For,  fuppofe  a  few  {hips  {hould  be  left  us  by  Britain 

With  Tories  to  man  them,  and  other  things  fitting, 

In  truth  we  {hould  be  in  a  very  fine  box, 

As  well  they  might  guard  us  with  {hips  on  the  ftocks, 

And  when  I  beheld  them  aboard  and  afloat, 

I  am  fure  I  {hould  think  of  the  bear  in  the  boat. 

On  the  faith  of  a  Printer,  things  look  very  black — 
And  what  fhall  we  do,  alas  !  and  alack  ! 
Shall  we  quit  our  young  princes  and  full  blooded  peers, 
And  bow  down  to  vifcounts  and  French  chevaliers  ? 
Perhaps  you  may  fay,  "  As  the  very  laft  {hift 
"  We'll  go  to  New  Scotland,  and  take  the  king's  gift :" 

Good  folks,  do  your  will — but  I  vow  and  I  fwear, 
I'll  be  boil'd  into  foup  before  I'll  live  there  : 
Is  it  thus  that  our  monarch  his  fubje&s  degrades  ? — 
Let  him  go  and  be  damn'd  with  his  axes  and  fpades  : — 
Of  all  the  vile  countries  that  ever  were  known 
In  the  frigid,  or  torrid,  or  temperate  zone, 
(From  account? that  I've  had)  there  is  not  fuch  another; 
It  neither  belongs  to  this  world  or  the  other : 
A  favour  they  think  it  to  fend  us  there  gratis, 
To  fing  like  the  Jews  at  the  river  Euphrates, 
And,  after  furmounting  the  rage  of  the  billows, 
Hang  ourfelves  up  at  laft  with  our  harps  on  the  willows : 
Ere  I  fail  for  that  fhore,  may  I  take  my  laft  nap — 
Why,  it  gives  me  the  palfy  to  look  on  its  map  ! 
And  he  that  goes  there  (though  I  mean  to  be  civil) 
May  fairly  be  faid  to  have  gone  to  the  Devil. 


2i 8  RIVINGTON'S  REFLECTIONS. 

Shall  I  pufh  for  Old  England,  and  whine  at  the  throne  ? 
Alas  !  they  have  JEMMIES  enough  of  their  own  ! 
Befides,  fuch  a  name  I  have  got  from  my  trade, 
They  would  think  I  was  lying,  whatever  I  faid  ; 
Thus  fcheme  as  I  will,  or  contrive  as  I  may, 
Continual  difficulties  rife  in  the  way  : 
In  fhort,  if  they  let  me  remain  in  this  realm, 
What  is  it  to  Jemmy  who  (lands  at  the  helm  ? 
I'll  petition  the  rebels  (if  York  is  forfaken) 
For  a  place  in  their  Zion  which  ne'er  (hall  be  (haken  ; 
I  am  fure  they'll  be  clever :  it  feems  their  whole  ftudy  : 
They  hung  not  young  ASGILL  for  old  captain  HUDDY,* 

*  Irving  thus  tells  the  ftory  of  "  Old  Huddy  :" — "A  marauding  New  York 
refugee,  in  1 782,  had  been  captured  by  the  Jerfey  people,  and  killed  in  attempt 
ing  to  efcape  from  thofe  who  were  conducing  him  to  Monmouth  jail.  His 
partiLns  in  New  York  determined  on  a  fignal  revenge.  Captain  Jofeph  Huddy, 
an  ardent  whig,  who  had  been  captured  when  bravely  defending  a  block-houfe 
in  Monmouth  County,  and  carried  captive  to  New  York,  was  now  drawn  forth 
from  prifon,  conduced  into  the  Jerfrys  by  a  party  of  refugees,  headed  by  a  Cap 
tain  Lippencott,  and  hanged  on  the  heights  of  Middletown,  with  a  label  affixed 
to  his  breaft,  bearing  the  infcription,  'Up  goes  Huddy  for  Philip  White.'  A 
popular  outcry  for  retaliation  enfued.  Washington  felt""the  neceflity  for  acTion, 
fubmittcd  the  matter  to  a  board  of  officers,  and,  in  accordance  with  thrir  deter 
mination,  demanded  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  that  Captain  Lippencott  or  tlie  officer 
who  had  ordered  the  execution  Should  be  given  up.  If  this  were  not  complied 
with,  wrote  Washington,  * I  Shall  hold  myfelf  justifiable  in  the  eyes  of  God  and 
man  for  the  meafure  to  which  I  will  refort.'  Clinton  declined  to  furrender 
Lippencott,  but  Stated  that  he  had  ordered  an  investigation  into  the  circumstances, 
and  would  bring  the  perpetrator  of  the  deed  to  trial.  Washington,  Strengthened 
in  his  purpofe  by  a  refolution  of  Congrefs,  then  ordered  one  of  the  British  officers, 
prifoners  at  Lancafter,  Pa.,  to  be  chofen  by  lot  for  retaliation.  The  lot  Ml  upon 
Captain  Charles  Afgill  of  the  Guards,  an  amiable  youth  of  nineteen,  and  the  fon 
of  a  wealthy  baronet.  His  fituation  excited  the  fympathy  of  his  brother  British 
officers,  and  their  indignation  at  Clinton  in  fubjecYmg  him  to  the  penalty  by  not 
giving  up  the  offender.  One  of  their  number,  Captain  Ludlow,  was  allowed  to 


RIVINGTON'S  REFLECTIONS.  219 

And  it  muft  be  a  truth  that  admits  no  denying, 

If  they  fpare  us  for  MURDER  they'll  fpare  us  for  LYING. 

II. 

FOLKS  may  think  as  they  pleafe,  but  to  me  it  would  feem, 
That  our  great  men  at  home  have  done  nothing  but  dream : 
Such  trimming  and  twitting  and  fhifting  about, 
And  fome  getting  in,  and  others  turn'd  out ; 
And  yet,  with  their  bragging  and  looking  fo  big, 
All  they  did  was  to  dance  a  theatrical  jig. 

Seven  years  now,  and  more,  we  have  try'd  every  plan, 
And  are  juft  as  near  conquering  as  when  we  began, 
Great  things  were  expected  from  Clinton  and  Howe, 
But  what  have  they  done,  or  where  are  they  now  ? 
Sir  Guy  was  fent  over  to  kick  up  a  duft, 
Who  already  prepares  to  return  in  difgufl — 
The  object  delufive  we  wifh  to  attain 

go  to  New  York  to  reprefent  the  matter  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  the  new  Com 
mander-in-chief.  Afgill,  meanwhile,  was  courteoufly  treated,  but  firmly  detained 
to  await  the  refult.  Lippencott  was  finally  tried  by  a  court-martial,  and  acquit 
ted,  on  the  ground  of  having  received  verbal  orders  from  Governor  Franklin, 
prefident  of  the  board  of  aflbciated  loyalifts.  The  Britifli  commander  reprobated 
the  death  of  Captain  Kuddy,  and  broke  up  the  board.  Under  thefe  circum- 
ftances,  Washington,  reluctant  to  prefs  the  penalty  involved,  admitted  Captain 
Afgil}  on  parole,  and  requefted  the  action  of  Congrefs  to  fet  him  at  liberty.  Lady 
Afgill,  the  mother  of  the  youth,  anxious  for  her  fon's  fafety,  had,  in  the  mean 
time,  gained  the  ear  of  the  French  minifter,  the  Count  de  Vergennes,  with  a  fup- 
plication  for  his  interceflion,  which,  under  the  direction  of  the  king  and  queen, 
was  made.  Wafliington  laid  the  Count's  application  before  Congrefs,  which 
now  took  a  favourable  view  of  the  matter,  and  Captain.  Afgill,  greatly  to  the 
relief  of  Washington,  was  releafed." — IRVING'S  Life  of  Wajkington,  iv.  394-7. 
SPARKS'S  Life  and  Writing!  of  Wajbington,  viii.  301,  and  sequel. 


RIVINGTON'S  REFLECTIONS. 

Has  been  in  our  reach,  and  may  be  fo  again — 
But  fo  oddly  does  heaven  its  bounties  difpenfe, 
And  has  granted  our  king  fuch  a  fmall  fhare  of  fenfe 
That,  let  Fortune  favour  or  fmile  as  (he  will, 
We  are  doom'd  to  drive  on,  like  a  horfe  in  a  mill, 
And  though  we  may  feem  to  advance  on  our  rout,' 
'Tis  but  to  return  to  where  we  fat  out. 

From  hence  I  infer  (by  way  of  improvement) 
That  nothing  is  got  by  this  circular  movement ; 
And  I  plainly  perceive,  from  this  fatal  delay, 
We  are  going  to  ruin  the  round-about  way  ! 
Some  nations,  like  (hips,  give  up  to  the  gale, 
And  are  hurry'd  a(hore  with  a  full  flowing  fail ; 
So  Sweden  fubmitted  to  abfolute  power, 
And  freemen  were  chang'd  to  be  flaves  in  an  hour  ; 
Thus  THEODORE  foon  from  his  grandeur  came  down, 
Forfaking  his  fubje£b  and  Corfican  crown  ;* 

*  Theodore  Baron  NewhofF,  an  enthufiaftic  German  military  adventurer,  who 
was  proclaimed  king  of  Corfica  in  1736.  After  paffing  eight  months  on  the 
ifland,  afTuming  various  marks  of  royalty,  he  left  his  "  kingdom"  to  folicit  aid  on 
the  Continent;  but  failed  to  carry  his  further  fchemes  of  fovereignty  into  effect. 
He  ended  his  days  in  great  poverty  in  London,  where  he  was  confined,  not  long 
before  his  death,  which  happened  in  1756,  as  a  prifoner  for  debt.  Horace  Wai- 
pole  took  an  imaginative  intcreft  in  his  fortunes,. and  wrote  a  very  plcafant  paper 
in  the  World  (No.  viii.,  Feb.  21,  1753)  in  his  behalf,  fuggcfting  a  fubfcription 
for  his  relief.  A  confiderable  fum  was,  in  confequence,  collected  for  the  fallen 
monarch.  "How  muft  I  bluftj  for  my  countrymen,"  writes  Walpole,  "when  I 
mention  a  monarch  !  an  unhappy  monarch,  now  actually  fuffcrcd  to  languifh  for 
rfebt  in  one  of  the  common  prifons  of  this  city  !  A  monarch  whofe  courage 
raifed  him  to  a  throne,  not  by  a  fucccflion  of  ambitious,  bloody  acts,  but  by  the 
voluntary  clefrion  of  an  injured  people,  who  had  the  common  right  of  mankind 
to  freedom,  and  the  uncommon  refolution  of  determining  to  be  free  !  This 
prince  is  Theodore,  king  of  Corficn  !  a  man  whofe  claim  to  royalty  is  ns  indifpu- 


RIVINGTON'S  REFLECTIONS.  221 

But  we — 'tis  our  fate,  without  ally  or  friend, 
To  go  to  perdition,  clofe  haul'd  to  the  wind. 

The  cafe  is  too  plain,  that  if  I  ftay  here 
I  have  fomething  to  hope  and  fomewhat  to  fear : 
In  regard  to  my  carcafe,  I  fhould  n't  mind  that — 
I  can  fay  "  I  have  liv'd,"  and  have  grown  very  fat ; 
Have  been  in  my  day  remarkably  fhifty, 
And  foon,  very  foon,  will  be  verging  on  fifty. 
'Tis  time  for  the  ftate  of  the  dead  to  prepare, 
'Tis  time  to  confider  how  things  will  go  there  ; 
Some  few  are  admitted  to  Jupiter's  hall, 
But  the  dungeons*  of  Pluto  are  open  to  all — 
The  day  is  approaching  as  faft  as  it  can 
When  Jemmy  (hall  be  a  mere  moderate  man, 
Shall  fleep  under  ground  both  fummer  and  winter, 
The  hufk  of  a  man,  and  the  mell  of  a  printer, 
And  care  not  a  farthing  for  George  or  his  line, 
What  empires  ftart  up,  or  what  kingdoms  decline. 

Our  parfon  laft  Sunday  brought  tears  from  my  eyes, 
When  he  told  us  of  heaven,  I  thought  of  my  lies — 
To  his  flock  he  defcrib'd  it,  and  laid  it  before  'em, 
(As  if  he  had  been  in  its  Sanftum  Sanftorum) 
Recounted  its  beauties  that  never  {hall  fade, 
And  quoted  John  Bunyan  to  prove  what  he  faid  ; 

table  as  the  moft  ancient  titles  to  any  monarchy  can  pretend  to  be;  that  is,  the 
choice  of  his  fubjeds ;  the  only  kind  of  title  allowed  in  the  excellent  Gothic 
conftitutions,  from  whence  we  derive  our  ownj  the  fame  kind  of  title  which 
endears  the  prefent  royal  family  to  Englishmen  j  and  the  only  kind  of  title  againft 
which,  perhaps,  no  objection  can  lie." 

*  "But  the  kitchen  of  Pluto  :s  open  to  all." — ED.  1795. 


Z22  RIVINGTON'S  REFLECTIONS. 

Debarr'd  from  the  gate  who  the  Truth  fhould  deny, 
Or  "  whofoe'er  lovcth  or  maketh  a  lie." 

Thro'  the  courfe  of  my  life  it  has  ftill  been  my  lot 
In  fpite  of  myfelf,  to  fay  u  things  that  are  not," 
And  therefore  fufpect  that  upon  my  deceafe 
Not  a  poet  will  leave  me  to  (lumber  in  peace, 
But  at  leaft  once  a  week  be-fcribble  the  ftone 
Where  Jemmy,  poor  Jemmy,  lies  fleeping  alone  ! 

Howe'er  in  the  long  run  thefe  matters  may  be, 
If  the  fcripture  is  true,  it  has  bad  news  for  me — - 
And  yet,  when  I  come  to  examine  the  text, 
And  the  learn'd  annotations  that  POOLE  has  annex'd, 
Throughout  the  black  lift  of  the  people  that  fin 
I  cannot  once  find  that  I'm  mention'd  therein  ; 
Whoremongers,  idolaters,  all  are  left  out, 
And  wizzards,  and  dogs  (which  is  proper,  no  doubt) 
But  he  who  fays  I'm  there,  miftakes  or  forgets — 
It  mentions  no  PRINTERS  of  ROYAL  GAZETTES  ! 

In  truth,  I  have  need  of  a  manfion  of  reft, 
And  here  to  remain  might  fuit  me  the  beft — 
PHILADELPHIA  in  fome  things  would  anfwer  as  well, 
(Some  Tories  are  there,  and  my  papers  might  fell)     .. 
But  then  I  (hould  live  amongft  wrangling  and  ftrife, 
And  be  forc'd  to  fay  credo  the  reft  of  my  life  : 
For  their  fudden  converfion  I'm  much  at  a  lofs — 
I  am  told  that  they  bow  to  the  wood  of  the  crofs, 
And  worfhip  the  reliques  tranfported  from  Rome, 
St.  Peter's  toe-nails  and  St.  Anthony's  comb. — 
If  thus  the  true  faith  they  no  longer  defend 


RIVINGTON'S  REFLECTIONS.  223 

I  fcarcely  can  think  where  the  madnefs  will  end — 
If  the  greateft  among  them  fubmit  to  the  Pope, 
What  reafon  have  I  for  indulgence  to  hope  ? 
If  the  Congrefs  themfelves  to  the  CHAPEL  did  pafs,* 
Ye  may  fwear  that  poor  JEMMY  would  have  to  fing  mafs. 
{Dec.  1782.] 

*  "  On  the  4th  of  November  laft,  the  clergy  and  feledmen  of  Bofton  paraded 
"through  the  ftreets  after  a  crucifix,  and  joined  in  a  proceflion  in  praying  for  a 
"  departed  foul  out  of  Purgatory  j  and  for  this  they  gave  the  example  of  Con- 
"grefs,  and  other  American  leaders,  on  a  former  occaficn  at  Philadelphia,  fome 
"of  whom,  in  the  height  of  their  zeal,  even  went  fo  far  as  to  fprinkle  themfelves 
"with  what  they  call  Holy  'water" — Royal  Gazette,  of  December  II.  inft. 


POLITICAL     BIOGRAPHY. 
G  A  I  N  E'S     LIFE. 

CITY  or  NFAV-YORJC,  Jan.  i,  1783.* 

TO  the  Srniifrf  of  York,  with  all  due  fubmiflion, 
Of  honeft  HUGH  GAINED  the  humble  Puititn ,• 
An  Account  tf  hh  Lift  he  will  alfo  prefix, 
And  feme  trifles  that  happened  in  fcvintj-fix  ; 
He  hopes  that  your  honours  will  take  no  offence, 
If  he  fends  you  fome  groans  of  contrition  from  hence, 
And,  further,  to  prove  that  he's  truly  fmccre, 
He  withes  you  all  a  happy  New  Ytar. 

I. 

A  ND,  firft,  he  informs,  in  his  reprefentation, 

That  he  once  was  a  printer  of  good  reputation. 
And  dwelt  in  the  ftreet  call'd  Hanover  Square, 
(You'll  know  where  it  is,  if  you  ever  was  there) 

*  The  Britiih  army  evacuated  New  York  the  November  following. 

•j-  The  Legislature  of  the  State  were  at  this  time  in  feflion  at  FISHKILL. 

J  Hugh  Gaine,  a  native  of  Ireland,  commenced  the  printing  bufmefs  in  New 
York  in  1750.  In  1752,  he  began  the  publication  of  the  Nciv  fork  Mtrcury, 
*  weekly  newfpaper,  which  appeared  every  Monday.  It  was  fubfequently  enti 
tled  The  New  Ttrk  Gazette  and  the  Weekly  Mtrcury.  In  1777,  Gaine  fet  up  the 
King's  Arms  in  the  title,  in  place  of  a  figure  of  Mercury.  "  During  the  political 
conteft  with  Great  Britain,"  fays  Thomas,  in  his  "  Hiftory  of  Printing,"  "the 
Mtrcury  appeared  rather  as  a  neutral  paper.  Gaine  feemed  defirous  to  flue  v.ith 
the  fuccefsful  party;  but,  not  knowing  which  would  eventually  prevail,  he  icemi 
to  have  been  unftable  in  his  politics.  After  the  war  commenced,  he  leaned  to- 


POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY.  225 

Next  door  to  the  dwelling  of  do&or  Brownjohn, 

(Who  now  to  the  drug-fhop  of  Pluto  is  gone) 

But  what  do  I  fay — who  e'er  came  to  town, 

And  knew  not  HUGH  GAINE  at  the  Bible  and  Crown. 

Now,  if  I  was  ever  fo  given  to  lie, 
My  dear  native  country  I  wouldn't  deny  ; 
(I  know  you  love  Teagues)  and  I  {hall  not  conceal 
That  I  came  from  the  kingdom  where  Phelim  O'Neale 
And  other  brave  worthies  ate  butter  and  cheefe, 
And  walk'd  in  the  clover-fields  up  to  their  knees  : 
Full  early  in  youth,  without  bafket  or  burden, 
With  a  ftaffin  my  hand,  I  pafs'd  over  Jordan, 
(I  remember  my  comrade  was  doctor  Magraw,*' 
And  many  ftrange  things  on  the  waters  we  faw, 
Sharks,  dolphins,  and  fea-dogs,  bonettas,  and  whales, 
And  birds  at  the  tropic,  with  quills  in  their  tails) 
And  came  to  your  city  and  government  feat, 
And  found  it  wa^  true  you  had  fomething  to  eat ; 
When  thus  I  wrote  home — u  The  country  is  good, 

ward  the  country.  When  the  Britifh  army  approached  New  York,  in  1776, 
Gaine  removed  to  Newark  in  New  Jerfey,  and  there,  during  a  few  weeks,  pub- 
lifhed  the  Mercury.  Soon  after  the  Britifh  gained  pofleflion  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  he  returned  and  printed,  under  the  protection  of  the  King's  army;  and, 
like  Rivington,  devoted  his  paper  to  the  royal  caufe.  Gaine  publifhed  the  Mer 
cury  until  peace  was  established,  and  it  was  then  difcontinued,  after  an  exiftence  of 
about  thirty-one  years." 

In  compliance  with  a  petition  to  the  State  Legiflature,  which  is  the  fubjecl 
of  Freneau's  humorous  poem,  Hugh  Gaine  was  permitted,  at  the  clofe  of  the 
war,  to  remain  in  the  city  in  peace.  There  he  continued  engaged  in  his  bufinefs 
as  a  bookfeller,  in  which  he  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  great  probity,  till  his 
death,  in  1807,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one. 

*  A  cynical  and  very  eccentric  phyfician. — Author's  note. 
15 


226  POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY. 

"  They  have  plenty  of  vi&uals  and  plenty  of  wood  : 
"  The  people  are  kind,  and,  whate'er  they  may  think, 
"  I  (hall  make  it  appear  I  can  fwim  where  they'll  fink  ; 
"  And  yet  they're  fo  brifk,  and  fo  full  of  good  cheer, 
"  By  my  foul,  I  fufpect  they  have  always  new  year, 
u  And  therefore  conceive  /'/  is  good  to  be  here." 

So  faid,  and  fo  acted — I  put  up  a  prefs, 
And  printed  away  with  amazing  fuccefs  ; 
Neglected  my  perfon,  and  look'd  like  a  fright, 
Was  bother'd  all  day,  and  was  bufy  all  night, 
Saw  money  come  in,  as  the  papers  went  out, 
While  Parker  and  Weyman*  were  driving  about, 
And  curfing,  and  fwearing,  and  chewing  their  cuds, 
And  wifhing  Hugh  Gaine  and  his  prefs  in  the  fuds  : 
Ned  Weyman  was  printer,  you  know,  to  the  king, 
And  thought  he  had  got  all  the  world  in  a  ftring, 
(Though  riches  not  always  attend  on  a  throne) 
So  he  fwore  I  had  found  the  philofopher's  ftone, 
And  calPd  me  a  rogue,  and  a  fon  of  a  bitch, 
Becaufe  I  knew  better  than  him  to  get  rich. 

To  malice  like  that  'twas  in  vain  to  reply — 
You  had  known  by  his  looks  he  was  telling  a  lie. 

Thus  life  ran  away,  fo  fmooth  and  fercne — 
Ah  !  thefe  were  the  happieft  days  I  had  feen  ! 
But  the  faying  of  Jacob  I've  found  to  be  true, 
"  The  days  of  thy  fervant  are  evil  and  few  !" 
The  days  that  to  me  were  joyous  and  glad, 
Are  nothing  to  thofe  which  are  dreary  and  fad  ! 

*  New-York  Printers,  before  the  Revolution. 


POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY.  227 

The  feuds  of  the  Stamp-Aft  foreboded  foul  weather, 
And  war  and  vexation  all  coming  together : 
Thofe  days  were  the  days  of  riots  and  mobs, 
Tar,  feathers,  and  tories,  and  troublefome  jobs — 
Priefts  preaching  up  war  for  the  good  of  our  fouls, 
And  libels,  and  lying,  and  Liberty-Poles, 
From  which,  when  fome  whimfical  colours  you  wav'd, 
We  had  nothing  to  do,  but  look  up  and  be  fav'd — 
(You  thought,  by  refolving,  to  terrify  Britain — 
Indeed,  if  you  did,  you  were  damnably  bitten) 
I  knew  it  would  bring  an  eternal  reproach, 
When  I  faw  you  a-burning  Cadwallader's*  coach  ; 
I  knew  you  would  fuffer  for  what  you  had  done, 
When  I  faw  you  lampooning  poor  Sawney  his  fon, 
And  bringing  him  down  to  fo  wretched  a  level, 
As  to  ride  him  about  in  a  cart  with  the  devil. — 

II. 

WELL,  as  I  predicted  that  matters  would  be — 
To  the  ftamp-acT:  fucceeded  a  tax  upon  Tea  : 
What  cheft-fulls  were  fcatter'd,  and  trampled,  and  drown'd, 
And  yet  the  whole  tax  was  but  three  pence  per  pound  ! 
May  the  hammer  of  Death  on  my  noddle  defcend, 
And  Satan  torment  me  to  time  without  end, 
If  this  was  a  reafon  to  fly  into  quarrels, 
And  feuds  that  have  ruin'd  our  manners  and  morals  ; 
A  parfon  himfelf  might  have  fworn  round  the  compafs, 

*  Lieutenant-Governor  Cadwalladcr  Golden. 


228  POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY. 

That  folks  for  a  trifle  fhould  make  fuch  a  rumpus, 
Such  a  rout  as  to  fet  half  the  world  in  a  rage, 
Make  France,  Spain,  and  Holland  with  Britain  engage, 
While  the  Emperor,  the  Swede,  the  Rufs,  and  the  Dane 
All  pity  JOHN  BULL — and  run  off  with  his  gain. 
But  this  was  the  feafon  that  I  muft  lament — 
I  firft  was  a  whig  with  an  honeft  intent  ; 
Not  a  Rebel  among  them  talk'd  louder  or  bolder, 
With  his  fword  by  his  fide,  or  his  gun  on  his  fhoulder ; 
Yes,  I  was  a  whig,  and  a  whig  from  my  heart, 
But  ftill  was  unwilling  with  Britain  to  part — 
I  thought  to  oppofe  her  was  foolifh  and  vain, 
I  thought  fhe  would  turn  and  embrace  us  again, 
And  make  us  happy  as  happy  could  be, 
By  renewing  the  aera  of  mild  SIXTY-THREE  : 
And  yet,  like  a  cruel  undutiful  fon, 
Who  evil  returns  for  the  good  to  be  done, 
Unmerited  odium  on  Britain  to  throw, 
I  printed  fome  treafon  for  PHILIP  FRENEAU, 
Some  damnable  poems  reflecting  on  GAGE, 
The  KING  and  his  COUNCIL,  and  writ  with  fuch  rage, 
So  full  of  inve&ive,  and  loaded  with  fpleen, 
So  fneeringly  fmart,  and  fo  helliflily  keen, 
That,  at  leaft  in  the  judgment  of  half  our  wife  men, 
ALECTO  herfelf  put  the  nib  to  his  pen. 


POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY.  221, 


III. 

AT  this  time  arofe  a  certain  king  SEARS,* 
Who  made  it  his  ftudy  to  banifti  our  fears  : 
He  was,  without  doubt,  a  perfon  of  merit, 
Great  knowledge,  fome  wit,  and  abundance  of  fpirit ; 
Could  talk  like  a  lawyer,  and  that  without  fee, 
And  threaten'd  perdition  to  all  that  drank  TEA. 
Long  fermons  did  he  againft  Scotchmen  prepare, 
And  drank  like  a  German,  and  drove  away  care. 
Ah  !   don't  you  remember  what  a  vigorous  hand  he  put 
To  drag  off  the  great  guns,  and  plague  captain  Vandeput  ? 
That  night  when  the  HERO  (his  patience  worn  out) 
Put  fire  to  his  cannons  and  folks  to  the  rout, 
And  drew  up  his  fhip  with  a  fpring  on  her  cable, 

*  Isaac  Sears,  a  popular  leader  of  the  "Sons  of  Liberty,"  in  New  York,  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  and  hence  called  "  King  Sears,"  from  his  au 
thority  and  influence,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  1729.  He  was  a  failor  in  early 
life,  and,  when  he  appeared  as  an  actor  in  public  affairs  in  New  York,  in  1765, 
as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Correfpondence  of  the  patriots  of  that  period, 
was  a  merchant  and  fea-captain  of  that  city.  In  Auguft,  1775,  he  was  engaged 
with  a  number  of  citizens,  among  whom  was  Alexander  Hamilton,  then  a  ftu- 
dent  of  Columbia  College,  in  removing  the  cannon  from  the  Battery  at  the  foot 
of  Broadway,  while  Captain  Vandeput,  in  command  of  the  Afia  in  the  harbour, 
fired  upon  the  party  and  the  city.  The  tavern  of  Samuel  Fraunces,  in  Broad 
ftreet,  the  building  in  which  Wafliington  took  leave  of  his  officers  at  the  end  of 
the  war,  was,  according  to  Freneau,  ftruck  by  a  fhot.  In  the  edition  of  1786, 
the  lines  referring  to  this  incident  read  : — 

"  At  firft  we  fuppos'd  it  was  only  a  fham, 
Till  he  drove  a  round  ball  through  the  roof  of  black  Sam  ;".— 

Fraunces  being  of  a  dark  complexion.  Sears,  making  a  voyage  to  China  as 
fupercargo,  after  the  war  was  ended,  was,  on  his  arrival  at  Canton,  ftruck  with  a 
fever,  which  there  terminated  his  life  in  October,  1785. 


230  POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY. 

And  gave  us  a  fecond  confufion  of  Babel, 

And  (what  was  more  J "olid  thanfeurri/ous  language) 

Pour'd  on  us  a  tempeft  of  round  flyot  and  langrage ; 

Scarce  a  broadfide  was  ended  'till  another  began  again — 

13y  Jove  !   it  was  nothing  but  Fire  aivay  Flannagan  /* 

Some  thought  him  SALUTING  his  Sally's  and  Nancy's 

'Till  he  drove  a  round  /hot  thro'  the  roof  of  Sam  Francis. 

The  town  by  his  flafhes  was  fairly  enlighten'd, 

The  women  mifcarry'd,  the  beaus  were  all  frighten'd  ; 

For  my  part,  I  hid  in  a  cellar  (as  fages 

And  Chriftians  were  wont  in  the  primitive  ages  : 

Thus  the  Prophet  of  old  that  was  rapt  to  the  fly, 

Lay  fnug  in  a  cave  'till  the  tempeft  went  by, 

But,  as  foon  as  the  comforting  fpirit  had  fpoke, 

He  rofe  and  came  out  with  his  myftical  cloak)  : 

Yet  I  hardly  could  boaft  of  a  moment  of  reft, 

The  dogs  were  a-howling,  the  town  was  diftreft  !— 

But  our  terrors  foon  vanifh'd,  for  fuddenly  SEARS 

Renew'd  our  loft  courage  and  dry'd  up  our  tears. 

Our  memories,  indeed,  muft  have  ftrangely  decay'd 
If  we  cannot  remember  what  SPEECHES  he  made, 
What  handfome  harangues  upon  every  occafton, 
How  he  laugh'd  at  the  whim  of  a  Britifh  Invafion  ! 

u  P — x  take  'em,  (faid  he)  do  ye  think  they  will  come  ? 
"  If  they  fhou'd — we  have  only  to  beat  on  our  drum, 
"  And  run  up  the  flag  of  American  freedom, 
cc  And  people  will  mujhr  by  millions  to  bleed* em  ! 
u  ^N\\?ii  freeman  need  value  fuch  blackguards  as  thefe  ! 

*  A  cant  phrafe  among  privateerfmen. — Author* i  note. 


POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY  23! 

ct  Let  us  fink  in  our  channel  fome  Chevaux  de  frife — 

"  And  then  let  'em  come — and  we'll  fhow  'em  fair  play — 

"  But  they  are  not  madmen — I  tell  you — not  they  !" 

IV. 

FROM  this  very  day  'till  the  Bnt'ifh  came  in, 
We  liv'd,  I  may  fay,  in  the  Defert  of  Sin ; — 
Such  beating,  and  bruifing,  andfcratching,  and  tearing  $ 

Such  kicking,  and  cuffing,  and  curfmg,  and-fwearing  / 

But  when  they  advanc'd  with  their  numerous  fleet, 

And  WASHINGTON  made  his  noffurnal  retreat,* 

(And  which  they  permitted,  I  fay,  to  their  fhame, 

Or  else  your  NEW  EMPIRE  had  been  but  a  name) 

We  townfmen,  like  women,  of  Britons  in  dread, 

Miftrufted  their  meaning,  and  foolifhly  fled  ; 

Like  the  reft  of  the  dunces  I  mounted  my  fteed, 

And.gallop'd  away  with  incredible  fpeed, 

To  NEWARK  I  haftened — but  trouble  and  care 

Got  up  on  the  crupper  and  followed  me  there  ! 

There  I  fcarcely  got  fuel  to  keep  myfelf  warm, 

And  fcarcely  found  fpirits  to  weather  the  ft  or  m ; 

And  was  quickly  convinc'd  I  had  little  to  do, 

(The  Whigs  were  in  arms,  and  my  readers  were  few) 

So,  after  remaining  one  cold  winter  feafon, 

And  fluffing  my  papers  with  fe?ne thing  like  treafon, 

And  meeting  misfortunes  and  endlefs  difafters, 

And  forc'd  to  fubmit  to  a  hundred  new  majters, 

I  thought  it  more  prudent  to  hold  to  the  one — 

*  From  Long  Ifland. 


232  POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY. 

And  (after  repenting  of  what  I  had  done, 
And  curfing  my  folly  and  idle  purfuits) 
Return'd  to  the  city,  and  hung  up  my  boots. 

V. 

AS  matters  have  gone,  it  was  plainly  a  blunder, 
But  then  I  expecled  the  Whigs  mufl  knock  under, 
And  I  always  adhere  to  the  fword  that  is  longefl, 
And  flick  to  the  party  that's  like  to  be  ftrongefl  : 
That  you  have  fucceeded  is  merely  a  chance, 
I  never  once  dreamt  of  the  conduct  of  France  ! — 
If  alliance  with  her  you  were  promis'd — at  leafl 
You  ought  to  have  fhow'd  me  your  STAR  in  the  eaji, 
Not  let  me  go  off  uninform'd  as  a  beafl. 
When  your  army  I  faw  without  {lockings  or  fhoes, 
Or  vicluals — or  money,  to  pay  them  their  dues, 
(Excepting  your  wretched  Congreflional  paper, 
That  flunk  in  my  nofe  like  the  fnuffof  a  taper, 
A  cart  load  of  which  for  a  dram  might  be  fpent  all, 
That  damnable  bubble,  the  old  Continental 
That  took  people  in  at  this  wonderful  crifis, 
With  its  mottoes  and  emblems,  and  cunning  devices ; 
Which,  bad  as  it  was,  you  were  forc'd  to  admire, 
And  which  was,  in  fa&,  the  pillar  of  fire, 
To  which  you  directed  your  wandering  nofes, 
Like  the  Jews  in  the  defert  conducted  by  MOSES) 
When  I  faw  them  attended  with  famine  andyQw, 
Diflrefs  in  their  front,  and  Howe  in  their  rear  ; 
When  I  faw  them  for  debt  inceflantlv  dunn'd, 


POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY.  233 

Nor  a  (hilling  to  pay  them  laid  up  in  your  fund  ; 

Your  ploughs  at  a  ftand,  and  your  {hips  run  afhore — 

When  this  was  apparent  (and  need  I  fay  more  ?) 

I  bandied  my  cane,  and  I  looked  at  my  hat, 

And  cry'd — "  God  have  mercy  on  armies  like  that !" 

I  took  up  my  bottle,  difdaining  to  ftay, 

And  faid — "  Here's  a  health  to  the  Vicar  of  Bray" 

And  cock'd  up  my  beaver,  and — ftrutted  away. 

VI. 

ASHAM'D  of  my  conduct,  I  fneak'd  into  town, 
(Six  hours  and  a  quarter  the  fun  had  been  down) 
It  was,  I  remember,  a  cold  frofty  night, 
And  the  flars  in  the  firmament  glitter'd  as  bright 
As  if  (to  affume  a  poetical  ftile) 
Old  Vulcan  had  give  them  a  rub  with  his  file. 

'Till  this  curfed  night,  I  can  honeftly  fay, 
I  ne'er  before  dreaded  the  dawn  of  the  day  ; 
Not  a  wolf  or  a  fox  that  is  caught  in  a  trap 
E'er  was  fo  amam'd  of  his  nightly  mimap — 
I  couldn't  help  thinking  what  ills  might  befal  me, 
What  rebels  and  rafcals  the  Britim  would  call  me, 
And  how  I  might  fuffer  in  credit  and  purfe, 
If  not  in  my  perfon,  which  ftill  had  been  worfe  : 
At  length  I  refolv'd  (as  was  surely  my  duty) 
To  go  for  advice  to  parfon  AUCHMUTY  :* 

*  The  Rev.  Samuel  Auchmuty,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  of  the  clafs  of 
1742,  fucceeded  the  Rev.  Dr.  Barclay  as  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York, 
in  1764.  His  fympathies  with  the  old  monarchy  were  decided.  Sabine,  in  his 


234  POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY. 

(The  parfon,  who  now  I  hope  is  in  glory, 

Was  then  upon  earth,  and  a  terrible  tory, 

Not  COOPER  himfelf,  of  ideas  perplext, 

So  nicely  could  handle  and  torture  a  text, 

When  bloated  with  lies,  thro*  his  trumpet  he  founded 

The  damnable  fin  of  oppofing  a  crown'd  head) 

Like  a  penitent  finner,  and  dreading  my  fate, 

In  the  grey  of  the  morning  I  knock'd  at  his  gate  ; 

(No  doubt  he  was  vex'd  that  I  rous'd  him  fo  foon, 

For  his  worlhip  was  moftly  in  blankets  till  noon.) 

At  length  he  approach'd  in  his  veftments  of  black — 
(Alas,  my  poor  heart  !  it  was  then  on  the  rack, 
Like  a  man  in  an  ague  or  one  to  be  try'd ; 
I  (hook — and  recanted,  and  flobber'd,  and  figh'd) 
His  gown,  of  it  felf,  was  amazingly  big, 
Befides,  he  had  on  his  canonical  wig, 

"Loyalifts  of  the  Revolution,"  cites  a  portion  of  a  letter  by  him  to  Captain  Mon- 
trefor,  chief  engineer  of  Gage's  army  at  Bofton,  dated  New  York,  April,  1775,  in 
which  he  fays  :  "  We  have  lately  been  plagued  with  a  rafcally  Whig  mob  here, 
but  they  have  effected  nothing,  only  S_-ars,  the  king,  was  refcued  at  the  jail-door." 
Auchmuty  died  in  New  York,  in  1777. 

Myles  Cooper,  alluded  to  in  the  fame  paragraph,  was  the  loyalift  Prcfident  of 
King's  College,  New  York,  who,  rendering  himfelf  obnoxious  to  the  citizens  by 
his  advocacy  of  the  royal  caufe,  was  driven  from  the  city  in  a  popular  commotion 
on  the  night  of  the  loth  of  May,  1775.  He  took  refuge  on  board  of  a  ihip-of- 
war  in  the  harbor,  in  which  he  re-turned  to  England.  The  poet  Trumbull,  in  his 
"  M'Fingal,"  includes  both  thefe  worthies  in  his  enumeration  of  the  "High 
Church  Clergy"  who  were  on  the  fide  of  the  king  : — 

"  What  warnings  had  yc  of  your  duty 
From  our  old  Rcv'rcnd  Sam.  Auchmuty  f 
***** 
Have  not  our  Cooper  and  our  Scabury 
Sung  hymns,  like  Barak  and  old  Deborah  f" 


POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY.  235 

And  frown'd  at  a  diftance ;  but  when  he  came  near 
Look'd  pleafant  and  faid — "  What,  Hugh,  are  you  here  I 

"  Tour  heart,  I  am  certain,  is  horribly  hardened, 
"But  if  you  confefs — your  fin  will  be  pardon' d ; 
"  In  fpite  of  my  preachments,  and  all  I  could  fay, 
"  Like  the  prodigal  fon,  you  wander* d  away, 
"  Now  tell  me,  dear  penitent,  which  is  the  beft, 
"  To  be  with  the  rebels,  purfu'd  and  diftreft, 
"Devoid  of  all  comfort,  all  hopes  of  relief , 
"  Or  elfe  to  be  here,  and  partake  the  king's  beef? 

"More  people  refemble  the  fnake  than  the  dove, 
"  And  more  are  converted  by  terror  than  love  : 
"Like  a  Jheep  on  the  mountains,  or  rather  a fwine, 
"  You  wander* d  away  from  the  ninety  and  nine ; 
"Awhile  at  the  offers  of  mercy  you  fpurn'd, 
"  But  your  error  you  f aw,  and  at  length  have  returned; 
"  Our  mafter  will  therefore  confider  your  cafe, 
"And  reft  ore  you  again  to  favour  and  grace, 
"  Great  light  fh all  arife  from  utter  confufion, 
"And  rebels  Jh all  live  to  lament  their  delufion" 

"  Ah,  rebels  !   (faid  I)  they  are  rebels  indeed — 
"  Chaftifement,  I  hope,  by  the  king  is  decreed : 
"  They  have  hung  up  hisfubjefls  with  bed-cords  and  halters, 
"  And  banifli'd  his  Prophets,  and  thrown  down  his  altars. 
"  And  I — even  I — while  I  ventur'd  to  ftay, 
"  They  fought  for  my  life — to  take  it  away  ! 
u  I  therefore  propofe  to  come  under  your  wing, 
"  A  foe  to  REBELLION — a  flave  to  the  KING." 


236  POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY. 

VII. 

SUCH  folemn  confeflion,  in  fcriptural  ftyle, 
Work'd  out  my  falvation,  at  leaft  for  a  while  ; 
The  parfon  pronounc'd  me  deferving  of  grace, 
And  fo  they  reftor'd  me  to  Printing  and  Place. 

VIII. 

BUT  days,  fuch  as  thefe,  were  too  happy  to  laft  ; 
The  fand  of  felicity  fettled  too  faft  ! 
When  I  fwore  and  protefted  I  honour'd  the  throne 
The  leaft  they  could  do  was  to  let  me  alone  : 
Though  George  I  compar'd  to  an  angel  above, 
They  wanted  fome  folider  proofs  of  my  love  ; 
And  fo  they  oblig'd  me  each  morning  to  come 
And  turn  in  the  ranks  at  the  beat  of  the  drum, 
While  often,  too  often  (I  tell  it  with  pain) 
They  menac'd  my  head  with  a  hickory  cane, 
While  others,  my  betters,  as  much  were  oppreft— 
But  fhame  and  confufion  fhall  cover  the  reft. 

You,  doubtlefs,  will  think  I  am  dealing  in  fable 
When  I  tell  you  I  guard  an  officer's  Jiable — 
With  ufage  like  this  my  feelings  are  ftung ; 
The  next  thing  will  be,  I  muft  heave  out  the  dung  ! 
Six  hours  in  the  day  is  duty  too  hard, 
And  RIVINGTON  fncers  whene'er  I  mount  guard, 
And  laughs  till  his  fides  are  ready  to  fplit 
With  his  jefts,  and  his  fatires,  and  fayings  of  wit : 
Becaufe  he's  excus'd,  on  account  of  his  poft, 


POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY.  237 

He  cannot  go  by  without  making  his  boaft, 
As  if  I  was  all  that  is  fervile  and  mean — 
But  fortune,  perhaps,  may  alter  the  fcene, 
And  give  him  his  turn  to  ftand  in  the  ftreet, 
Burnt  Brandy  fupporting  his  radical  heat — 
But  what  for  the  king  or  the  caufe  has  he  done 
That  we  muft  be  toiling  while  he  can  look  on  ? 
Great  conquefts  he  gave  them  on  paper — 'tis  true, 
When  HOWE  was  retreating,  he  made  him  purfue  : 
Alack  !  its  too  plain  that  Britons  muft  fall — 
When,  loaded  with  laurels — they  go  to  the  wall. 

From  hence  you  may  guefs  I  do  nothing  but  grieve, 
And  where  we  are  going  I  cannot  conceive — 
The  wifeft  among  us  a  CHANGE  are  expecting, 
It  is  not  for  nothing,  thefe  fhips  are  collecting ; 
It  is  not  for  nothing,  that  MATHEWS,  the  mayor, 
And  legions  of  Tories,  for  failing  prepare  ; 
It  is  not  for  nothing,  that  JOHN  COGHILL  KNAP 
Is  filing  his  papers,  and  plugging  his  tap  ; 
See  SKINNER"*  himfelf,  the  fighting  attorney, 
Is  boiling  potatoes  to  ferve  a  long  journey ; 
But  where  they  are  going,  or  meaning  to  travel 
Would  puzzle  John  Fauftus,  himfelf,  to  unravel ; — 
Perhaps  to  Penobfcot,  to  ftarve  in  the  barrens, 

*  Cortlandt  Skmner,  the  laft  royal  Attorney-General  of  New  Jerfey,  was  author 
ized,  early  in  the  war,  to  raife  a  corps  of  Loyalifts.  Three  battalions  were  organ 
ized  and  officered,  and  called  the  New  Jerfey  volunteers  j  but  the  enliftments 
were  little  over  a  thoufand  men.  He  continued  in  command  of  the  corps,  with 
the  rank  of  Brigadier-General.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  England. — SABINE'S 
LoyalijlS)  ii.  306. 


238  POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY. 

Perhaps  to  St.  John's,  in  the  gulph  of  St.  Lawrence  ; 
Perhaps  to  New  Scotland,  to  perifh  with  cold, 
Perhaps  to  Jamaica,  like  flaves  to  be  fold  ; 
Where,  fcorch'd  by  the  fummer,  all  nature  repines, 
Where  Phoebus,  great  Phoebus,  too  glaringly  fhines, 
And  fierce  from  the  zenith  diverging  his  ray 
Diftreffes  the  ifle  with  a  torrent  of  day. 

Since  matters  are  thus,  with  proper  fubmiflion 
Permit  me  to  offer  my  humble  PETITION  ; 
(Though  \\\z  form  is  uncommon,  and  lawyers  may  fneer, 
With  truth  I  can  tell  you,  the  fcribe  is  fincere) : 

IX. 

That,  fince  it  is  plain  we  are  going  away, 

You  will  suffer  Hugh  Galne  unmolefted  to  ftay, 

His  fand  is  near  run  (life  itfelf  is  a  fpan) 

So  leave  him  to  manage  the  beft  that  he  can  : 

Whoe'er  are  his  mafters,  or  monarchs,  or  regents, 

For  the  future  he's  ready  to  fwear  them  allegiance  ; 

The  CROWN  he  will  promifc  to  hold  in  difgrace : 

The  BIBLE — allow  him  to  ftick  in  its  place, 

'Till  THAT,  in  due  feafon,  you  wifh  to  put  down, 

And  bid  him  keep  (hop  at  the  fign  of  the  CROWN. 

If  the  Turk  with  his  turban  (hould  fet  up  at  laft  here 

While  he  gives  him  protection,  he'll  own  him  his  matter, 

And  yield  due  obedience  (when  Britain  is  gone) 

Though  rul'd  by  the  fceptre  of  PRESBYTER  JOHN. 

My  prefs,  that  has  call'd  you  (as  tyranny  drove  her) 
Rogues,  rebels,  and  rafcals,  a  thoufand  times  over, 


POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY. 


239 


Shall  be  at  your  fervice  by  day  and  by  night, 
To  publifh  whate'er  you  think  proper  to  write  ; 
Thofe  types  which  have  rais'd  George  the  third  to  a  level 
With  angels — mall  prove  him  as  black  as  the  devil, 
To  HIM  that  contriv'd  him,  a  fhame  and  difgrace, 
Nor  bleft  with  one  virtue  to  honour  his  race  ! 

Who  knows  but,  in  time,  I  may  rife  to  be  great, 
And  have  the  good  fortune  to  manage  a  STATE  ? 
Great  noife  among  people  great  changes  denotes, 
And  I  mail  have  money  to  purchafe  their  votes — 
The  time  is  approaching,  I'll  venture  to  fay, 
When  folks  worfe  than  me  will  come  into  play, 
When  your  double  fac'd  people  mall  give  themfelves  airs, 
And  AIM  to  take  hold  of  the  helm  of  affairs, 
While  the  honeft  bold  SOLDIER,  that  fought  your  renown, 
Like  a  dog  in  the  dirt,  mail  be  crum'd  and  held  down. 

Of  honours  and  profits  allow  me  a  mare  ! 
I  frequently  dream  of  a  prefident's  chair  ! 
And  vifions  full  often  intrude  on  my  brain, 
That  for  me  to  interpret,  would  rather  be  vain. 

Bleft  feafons  advance,  when  Britons  mall  find 
That  they  can  be  happy,  and  you  can  be  kind, 
When  Rebels  no  longer  at  Traitors  fhall  fpurn, 
When  ARNOLD  himfelf  mall  in  triumph  return  ' 

X. 

But  my  paper  informs  me  it's  time  to  conclude ; 
I  fear  my  Addrefs  has  been  rather  too  rude — 


240  POLITICAL    BIOGRAPHY. 

If  it  has — for  my  boldnefs  your  pardon  I  pray, 
And  further,  at  prefent,  prefume  not  to  fay, 
Except  that  (for  form's  fake)  in  hafte  I  remain 
Your  humble  Petitioner— honeft— HUGH  GAINE 


ON  THE  DEATH  OF  COLONEL  LAURENS.* 

CINCE  on  her  plains  this  generous  chief  expir'd, 

Whom  fages  honour'd,  and  whom  France  admir'jd  ; 
Does  Fame  no  ftatues  to  his  memory  raife, 
Nor  fwells  one  column  to  record  his  praife 
Where  her  palmetto  mades  the  adjacent  deeps, 
Affection  fighs,  and  Carolina  weeps  ! 

Thou,  who  (halt  ftray  where  death  this  chief  confines, 
Revere  the  patriot,  fubjecl:  of  thefe  lines  : 
Not  from  the  duft  the  mufe  tranfcribes  his  name, 
And  more  than  marble  mail  declare  his  fame 
Where  fcenes  more  glorious  his  great  foul  engage, 
Confeft  thrice  worthy  in  that  clofing  page 

*  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  Laurens  was  the  Ton  of  the  eminent  mmifter, 
Henry  Laurens,  of  South  Carolina.  He  was  educated  in  England  ;  had  ferved  as 
aide  to  Walhington,  and  diftinguifhed  himfelf  in  the  Maryland,  Pennfylvania,  and 
Rhode  Ifland  campaigns.  He  fubfequently  ferved  with  General  Moultrie  in  South 
Carolina.  In  1780,  he  was  employed  on  a  million  to  the  French  Court  for  a  loan 
and  fupplies,  in  which  he  was  fuccefsful.  On  his  return,  he  gained  frefli  laurels 
at  the  fiege  of  Yorktown.  Returning  to  his  native  South  Carolina,  he  fell  gal 
lantly,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-feven,  in  an  engagement  with  a  detachment  of 
the  Britifh  garrifon  from  Charlefton,  at  the  River  Combahee,  in  Auguft,  1782. 
Alexander  Hamilton  was  his  intimate  friend,  and  Waihington  greatly  admired 
him 

16 


242  ON    THE    DEATH    OF    COLONEL    LAURENS 

When  conquering  Time  to  dark  oblivion  calls, 
The  marble  totters,  and  the  column  falls. 

LAURENS  !  thy  tomb  while  kindred  hands  adorn, 
Let  northern  mufes,  too,  infcribe  your  urn.— 
Of  all,  whofe  names  on  death's  black  lift  appear, 
No  chief,  that  pcrifh'd,  claim'd  more  grief  fincere, 
Not  one,  Columbia,  that  thy  bofom  bore, 
More  tears  commanded,  or  deferv'd  them  more  ! — 
Grief  at  his  tomb  fhall  heave  the  unwearied  figh> 
And  honour  lift  the  mantle  to  her  eye  : 
Fame  thro*  the  world  his  patriot  name  fhall  fpread, 
By  heroes  envied  and  by  monarchs  read  : 
Juft,  generous,  brave — to  each  true  heart  allied  : 
The  Briton's  terror,  and  his  country's  pride  ; 
For  him  the  tears  of  war-worn  foldiers  ran, 
The  friend  of  freedom,  and  the  friend  of  man. 

Then  what  is  death,  compar'd  with  fuch  a  tomb, 
Where  honour  fades  not,  and  fair  virtues  bloom, 
When  filent  grief  on  every  face  appears, 
The  tender  tribute  of  a  nation's  tears  ; 
Ah  !  what  is  death,  when  deeds  like  his  thus  claim 
The  brave  man's  homage,  and  immortal  fame  ! 


• 


ON  THE  DEPARTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  FROM 
CHARLESTON. 

(December   14,   1782.) 

TTIS  triumphs  of  a  moment  done; 

His  race  of  defolation  run, 
The  Briton,  yielding  to  his  fears, 
To  other  fhores  with  forrow  fleers : 

To  other  fhores — and  coarfer  climes 
He  goes,  reflecting  on  his  crimes, 
His  broken  oaths,  a  murder'd  HAYNE, 
And  blood  of  thoufands,  fpilt  in  vain. 

To  Cooper's  ftream,  advancing  flow, 
AJhley  no  longer  tells  his  woe, 
No  longer  mourns  his  limpid  flood 
Difcolour'd  deep  with  human  blood. 

Lo  !  where  thofe  focial  ftreams  combine 
Again  the  friends  of  Freedom  join  ; 
And,  while  they  ftray  where  once  they  bled, 
Rejoice  to  find  their  tyrants  fled. 


244  ON    THE    DEPARTURE    OF    THE 

Since  memory  paints  that  difmal  day 
When  Britifli  fquadrons  held  the  fway, 
And  circling  clofe  on  every  fide, 
By  fea  and  land  retreat  deny'd — 

Shall  flic  recall  that  mournful  fcene, 
And  not  the  virtues  of  a  GREENE, 
Who  great  in  war — in  danger  try'd, 
Has  won  the  day,  and  crufti'd  their  pride. 

Through  barren  waftcs  and  ravag'd  lands 
He  led  his  bold  undaunted  bands, 
Through  fickly  climes  his  ftandard  bore 
Where  never  army  march'd  before  : 

By  fortitude,  with  patience  join'd, 
(The  virtues  of  a  noble  mind) 
He  fpread,  where'er  our  wars  are  known, 
His  country's  honour  and  his  own. 

Like  Hercules,  his  generous  plan 
Was  to  redrcfs  the  wrongs  of  men  j 
Like  him,  accuftom'd  to  fubdue, 
He  freed  a  world  from  monjlers  too. 

Through  every  want  and  every  ill 

We  faw  him  perfcvcring  ftill, 

Through  Autumn's  damps  and  Summer's  heat, 

'Till  his  great  purpofe  was  complete. 


BRITISH    FROM    CHARLESTON.  245 

Like  the  bold  eagle,  from  the  Ikies 
That  ftoops,  to  feize  his  trembling  prize, 
He  darted  on  the  {laves  of  kings 
At  Camden  heights  and  Eutaw  Springs. 

Ah  !   had  our  friends  that  led  the  fray 
Surviv'd  the  ruins  of  that  day, 
We  mould  not  damp  our  joy  with  pain, 
Nor,  fympathifing,  now  complain. 

Strange  !  that  of  thofe  who  nobly  dare 
Death  always  claims  fo  large  a  mare, 
That  thofe  of  virtue  moft  refm'd 
Are  fooneft  to  the  grave  confign'd  ! 


But  fame  is  theirs — and  future  days 
On  pillar'd  brafs  {hall  tell  their  praife  ; 
Shall  tell — when  cold  neglecl:  is  dead — 
"  Thefe  for  their  country  fought  and  bled.' 


ON   THE   BRITISH   KING'S   SPEECH, 

RECOMMENDING    PEACE    WITH    THE    AMERICAN    STATES. 

/~*  ROWN  Tick  of  war,  and  war's  alarms, 

Good  GEORGE  has  chang'd  his  note  at  laft — 
Conqueft  and  Death  have  loft  their  charms  ; 

He  and  his  nation  ftand  aghaft 
To  fee  what  horrid  lengths  they've  gone, 
And  what  a  brink  they  ftand  upon. 

Old  BUTE  and  NORTH  !  twin  fons  of  hell, 

If  you  advis'd  him  to  retreat 
Before  our  vanquifh'd  thoufands  fell 

Proftrate,  fubmiflive  at  his  feet  ; 
Awake  once  more  his  latent  flame 
And  bid  us  yield  you  all  you  CLAIM. 

The  Macedonian  wept  and  figh'd 

Becaufe  no  other  world  was  found 
Where  he  might  glut  his  rage  and  pride, 

And  by  its  ruin  be  renown'd  ; 
The  world  that  Sawny  wifh'd  to  view 
George  fairly  had — and  loft  it  too  ! 


ON    THE    BRITISH    KING'S    SPEECH.  247 

Let  jarring  powers  make  war  or  peace, 

Monfter  ! — no  peace  (hall  greet  thy  breaft : 

Our  murder'd  friends  fhall  never  ceafe 
To  hover  round  and  break  your  reft  ! 

The  Furies  fhall  your  bofom  tear, 

Remorfe,  diftraclion,  and  defpair 

And  hell,  with  all  its  fiends,  be  there  ! 

Curs'd  be  the  {hip  that  e'er  fets  fail 

Hence,  freighted  for  thy  odious  ftiore ; 
May  tempefts  o'er  her  ftrength  prevail, 

Deftruclion  round  her  roar  ! 
May  Nature  all  her  aids  deny, 

The  fun  refufe  his  light, 
The  needle  from  its  object  fly, 

No  ftar  appear  by  night ; 
'Till  the  bafe  pilot,  confcious  of  his  crime, 
Directs  the  prow  to  fome  more  CHRISTIAN  clime. 

Genius  !  that  firft  our  race  defign'd, 

To  other  kings  impart 
The  finer  feelings  of  the  mind, 

The  virtues  of  the  heart ; 
Whene'er  the  honours  of  a  throne 

Fall  to  the  bloody  and  the  bafe, 
Like  Britain's  monfter,  pull  them  down, 

Like  his,  be  their  difgrace  ! 

Hibernia,  feize  each  native  right ! 

Neptune,  exclude  him  from  the  main ; 


248  ON    THE    BRITISH    KING'S    SPEECH. 

Like  her  that  funk  with  all  her  freight, 
The  Royal  George^  take  all  his  fleet, 

And  never  let  them  rife  again  : 
Confine  him  to  his  gloomy  ifle, 

Let  Scotland  rule  her  half, 
Spare  him  to  curfe  his  fate  awhile, 

And  WHITEHEAD,*  thou,  to  write  his  Epitaph.— 

['783-] 

*  At  that  time  Poet-Laureat  to  the  king  of  Great  Britain — author  of  the  exc 
crable  Birth-day  Od^s — Author'*  note. 


MANHATTAN     CITY. 

A    PICTURE. 

T^AIR  miftrefs  of  a  warlike  STATE, 

What  crime  of  thine  deferves  this  fate  ? 
While  other  ports  to  FREEDOM  rife, 
In  thee  that  flame  of  honour  dies. 

With  wars  and  horrors  overfpread, 
Seven  years,  and  more,  we  fought  and  bled : 
Seiz'd  Britifh  hofts  and  Heflian  bands, 
And  all — to  leave  thee  in  their  hands. 

While  Britifh  tribes  forfake  our  plains, 
In  you,  a  ghaftly  herd  remains  : 
Muft  vipers  to  your  halls  repair ; 
Muft  poifon  taint  that  pureft  air  ? 

Ah  !  what  a  fcene  torments  the  eye  ; 

In  thee  what  putrid  monfters  lie  ! 

What  dirt,  and  mud,  and  mouldering  walls, 

Burnt  domes,  dead  dogs,  and  funerals  ! 

Thofe  grafly  banks,  where  oft  I  ftood, 
And  fondly  view'd  the  pafling  flood  ^ 


250  MANHATTAN    CITY. 

There  owls  obfcene,  that  day-light  (hun, 
Pollute  the  waters,  as  they  run. 

Thus  in  the  eaft — once  Afia's  queen — 
PALMYRA'S  tottering  towers  are  feen  ; 
While  through  her  ilreets  the  ferpent  feeds, 
Thus  fhe  puts  on  her  mourning  weeds  ! 

Lo  !  SKINNER  there  for  Scotia  hails 
The  fweepings  of  Cefarean  jails  : 
While,  to  receive  the  odious  freight, 
A  thoufand  fable  tranfports  wait. 

Had  he  been  born  in  days  of  old 
When  men  with  gods  their  'fquires  enrolPd, 
Hermes  had  claim'd  his  aid  above, 
Arch-quibbler  in  the  courts  of  Jove. 

O  chief,  that  wrangled  at  the  bar — 
Grown  old  in  lefs  fuccefsful  war ; 
What  crowds  of  mifcreants  round  you  (land, 
What  vagrants  bow  to  thy  command  ! 

Long,  much  too  long  in  YORK  refide 
A  race,  that  mortifies  our  pride — 
A  race,  that  all  mankind  defames, 
And  NOVA-SCOTIA  only  claims. 

[•783-] 


A    NEW-YORK    TORY'S    EPISTLE    TO    ONE    OF    HIS 
FRIENDS   IN   PENNSYLVANIA. 

WRITTEN  PREVIOUS  TO  HIS  DEPARTURE  FOR  NOVA  SCOTIA. 

T^\ARK  glooms  the  day  that  fees  me  leave  this  fhore, 

To  which  fate  whifpers  I  muft  come  no  more  : 
From  civil  broils  what  dire  difalters  flow — 
Thofe  broils  condemn  me  to  a  land  of  woe 
Where  barren  pine  trees  {hade  the  dreary  fteep, 
Frown  o'er  the  foil  or  murmur  to  the  deep, 
Where  fullen  fogs  their  heavy  wings  expand, 
And  nine  months  winter  chills  the  difmal  land  ' 
Could  no  kind  ftars  have  mark'd  a  different  way, 
Stars,  that  prefided  on  my  natal  day  ? — 
Why  is  not  man  endued  with  power  to  know 
The  ends  and  meanings  of  events  below  ! 
Why  did  not  heaven  (all  other  fense  deny'd) 
Teach  me  to  take  the  true-born  BUCKSKIN  fide, 
Show  me  the  balance  of  the  wavering  fates 
And  fortune  fmiling  on  thefe  new-born  STATES  ! 

Friend  of  my  heart ! — my  refuge  and  relief, 
Who  help'd  me  on  through  feven  long  years  of  grief, 
Whofe  better  genius  taught  you  to  remain 


252  A    NEW    YORK    TORY'S    EPISTLE. 

In  the  foft  quiet  of  your  rural  reign, 

Who  ftill  defpis'd  the  Rebels  and  their  caufe, 

And,  while  you  paid  the  taxes,  damn'd  their  laws, 

And  wifely  ftood  fpe&ator  of  the  fray 

Nor  trufted  GEORGE,  whate'er  he  chofe  to  fay  ; 

Thrice  happy  thou,  who  wore  a  double  face, 

And  as  the  balance  turn'd,  could  each  embrace  ; 

Too  happy  JANUS  !  had  I  (har'd  thy  art, 

To  Ipeak  a  language  foreign  to  my  heart, 

And  ftoop'd  from  pomp  and  dreams  of  regal  ftate 

To  court  the  friendfhip  of  the  men  I  hate, 

Thefe  ftrains  of  woe  had  not  been  penn'd  to-day, 

Nor  I  to  foreign  climes  been  forc'd  away  : 

Ah  !  GEORGE — that  name  provokes  my  keeneft  rage 
Did  he  not  fwear,  and  promifc,  and  engage 
His  loyal  fons  to  nurture  and  defend, 
To  be  their  god,  their  father,  and  their  friend- 
Yet  bafely  quits  us  on  a  hoftile  coast 
And  leaves  us  wretched,  where  we  need  him  moft. 
His  was  the  part  to  promife  and  deceive, 
By  him  we  wander  and  by  him  we  grieve  ; 
Since  the  firft  day,  that  thefe  diflentions  grew 
When  Gage  to  Bofton  brought  his  blackguard  crew, 
Amus'd  with  conquefts,  honours,  riches,  fame, 
Pofts,  titles,  earldoms — and  a  deathlefs  name, 
From  place  to  place  we  urge  our  vagrant  flight 
To  follow  ftill  these  vapours  of  the  night, 
From  town  to  town  have  run  our  various  race, 
And  a&ed  all  that's  mean,  and  all  that's  bafe — 


A    NEW    YORK    TORY'S    EPISTLE.  253 

Yes — from  that  day  until  this  hour  we  roam, 
Vaorants  forever  from  our  native  home  ! 

D 

And  yet,  perhaps,  fate  fees  the  golden  hour 
When  happier  hands  (hall  crufh  rebellious  power, 
When  hoftile  tribes  their  plighted  faith  (hall  own 
And  fwear  fubje&ion  to  the  Britifh  throne, 
When  George  the  fourth  fhall  their  petitions  fpurn, 
And  banifli'd  thoufands  to  their  fields  return. 

From  dreams  of  conqueft,  worlds,  and  empires  won, 
Britain  awaking,  mourns  her  fetting  fun, 
No  rays  of  joy  her  evening  hour  illume, 
'Tis  one  fad  chaos,  one  unmingled  gloom  ! 
Too  foon  fhe  finks  unheeded  to  the  grave, 
No  eye  to  pity,  and  no  hand  to  fave  : 
What  are  her  crimes  that  (he  alone  muft  bend  ? 
Where  are  her  hofts  to  conquer  and  defend — 
Muft  fhe  alone  with  thefe  new  regions  part, 
Thefe  realms  that  lay  the  neareft  to  her  heart, 
But  foar'd  at  once  to  independent  power, 
Not  funk,  like  Scotland,  in  the  trying  hour  ? — 
See,  flothful  Spaniards  golden  empires  keep, 
And  rule  vaft  realms  beyond  the  Atlantic  deep  ; 
Must  we  alone  furrender  half  our  reign, 
And  they  their  empires  and  their  worlds  retain  ? — 
Britannia  rife — fend  JOHNSTONE  to  PERU, 
Seize  thy  bold  thunders  and  the  war  renew, 
Conquejl  or  ruin — one  muft  be  thy  doom, 
Strike — and  fecure  a  triumph  or  a  tomb  ! 

But  we,  fad  outcafts  from  our  native  reign, 


254  A  NEW  YORK  TORY'S  EPISTLE. 

Driven  from  thefe  (bores,  a  poor  deluded  train, 

In  diftant  wilds,  conducted  by  defpair, 

Seek,  vainly  feek,  a  hiding  place  from  care  ! 

Even  now  yon*  tribes,  the  foremoft  of  the  band, 

Crowd  to  the  (hips  and  cover  all  the  ftrand  ; 

Forc'd  from  their  friends,  their  country,  and  their  GOD, 

I  fee  the  unhappy  mifcreants  leave  the  fod  ! 

Matrons  and  men  walk  forrowing  fide  by  fide, 

And  virgin  grief,  and  poverty,  and  pride  ; 

All,  all  with  aching  hearts  prepare  to  fail, 

And  late  repentance,  that  has  no  avail ! 

While  yet  I  ftand  on  this  forbidden  ground 

I  hear  the  death-bell  of  deftru&ion  found, 

And  threatening  hofts,  with  vengeance  on  their  brow 

Cry  "  where  are  Britain's  bafe  adherents  now  ?" 

Thefe,  hot  for  vengeance,  by  refentment  led, 

Blame  on  our  hearts  the  failings  of  the  head  ; 

To  us  no  peace,  no  favours  they  extend, 

Their  rage  no  bounds,  their  hatred  knows  no  end  ; 

In  one  firm  league  I  fee  them  all  combin'd, 

We,  like  the  damn'd,  can  no  forgivenefs  find — 

As  foon  might  Satan  from  perdition  rife, 

And  the  loft  angels  gain  their  vanifti'd  fkies, 

As  malice  ceafe  in  their  dark  fouls  to  burn, 

Or  we,  once  fled,  be  fuffer'd  to  return. 

Curs'd  be  the  UNION  that  was  form'd  with  France, 
I  fee  their  /////>*,  and  they/^r;,  advance  ! 
Did  they  not  turn  our  triumphs  to  retreats, 
And  prove  our  CONQUESTS  nothing  but  DEFEATS  ? — 


A    NEW    YORK    TORY'S    EPISTLE.  255 

My  heart  mifgives  me,  as  their  chiefs  draw  near, 
I  feel  the  influence  of  all-potent  fear: 
Henceforth  muft  I,  abandon'd  and  diftreft, 
Knock  at  the  door  of  pride,  a  beggar  guest, 
And  learn  from  years  of  mifery  and  pain 
Not  to  oppofe  fair  Freedom's  caufe  again  ! — 

One  truth  is  clear  from  Nature,  conftant  ftill, 
Kings  hold  not  worlds,  or  empires,  at  their  will : — 
Nor  rebels  they,  who  native  freedom  claim, 
Conqueft  alone  can  ratify  the  name — 
But  great  the  tafk,  refinance  to  controul 
When  genuine  VIRTUE  fires  the  ftubborn  foul ; 
The  warlike  beaft,  in  Lybian  deferts  plac'd 
To  reign  the  mafter  of  the  fun-burnt  wafte, 
Not  tamely  yields  to  wear  a  fervile  chain  : 

Force  may  attempt  it,  and  attempt  in  vain 

Nervous  and  bold,  by  native  valour  led  : 

His  prowefe  Jlrikes  the  proud  invader  dead, 

By  force  nor  fraud  from  Freedom's  charms  beguiPd, 

He  reigns  fecure  the  monarch  of  the  wild. 

TANTALUS. 
[May,  1783.] 


RIVINGTON'S    CONFESSIONS. 

ADDRESSED     TO     THE     WHIGS     OF     NEW-YORK. 

I. 

T    ONG  life  and  low  fpirits  were  never  my  choice, 

As  long  as  I  live  I  intend  to  rejoice  ; 
When  life  is  worn  out,  and  no  wine's  to  be  had, 
'Tis  time  enough  then  to  be  ferious  and  fad. 

'Tis  time  enough  then  to  reflect  and  repent 
When  our  liquor  is  gone,  and  our  money  is  fpent, 
But  I  cannot  endure  what  is  pra&is'd  by  fome 
This  anticipating  of  mifchiefs  to  come  ; 

A  debt  muft  be  paid,  I  am  forry^to  fay, 
Alike,  in  their  turns,  by  the  grave  and  the  gay. 
And  due  to  a  defpot  that  none  can  deceive 
Who  grants  us  no  refpite  and  figns  no  reprieve. 

Thrice  happy  is  he  that  from  care  can  retreat, 
And  its  plagues  and  vexations  put  under  his  feet  ; 
Blow  the  ftorm  as  it  may,  he  is  always  in  trim, 
And  the  fun's  in  the  zenith  forever  to  him. 


RIVINGTON'S  CONFESSIONS.  257 

Since  the  world  then,  in  earneft,  is  nothing  but  care, 
(And  the  world  will  allow  I  have  alfo  my  fhare) 
Yet,  tofs'd  as  I  am  in  the  ftormy  expanfe, 
The  beft  way,  I  find,  is  to  leave  it  to  chance. 

Look  round,  if  you  pleafe,  and  furvey  the  wide  ball 
And  CHANCE,  you  will  find,  has  direction  of  all : 
'Twas  owing  to  chance  that  I  firft  faw  the  light, 
And  chance  may  deftroy  me  before  it  is  night ! 

'Twas  a  chance,  a  mere  chance,  that  your  arms  gain'd  the  day, 
'Twas  a  chance  that  the  Britons  fo  foon  went  away, 
To  chance  by  their  leaders  the  nation  is  caft 
And  chance  to  perdition  will  fend  them  at  laft. 

Now  becaufe  I  remain  when  the  puppies  are  gone 
You  would  willingly  fee  me  hang'd,  quarter'd,  and  drawn, 
Though  I  think  I  have  logic  fufficient  to  prove 
That  the  chance  of  my  ftay — is  a  proof  of  my  love. 

For  deeds  of  deftru&ion  fome  hundreds  are  ripe, 
But  the  worft  of  my  foes  are  your  lads  of  the  type  : 
Becaufe  they  have  nothing  to  put  on  their  fhelves 
They  are  driving  to  make  me  as  poor  as  themfelves. 

There's  LOUDON,  and  KOLLOCK,  thofe  ftrong  bulls  of  Bafhan, 
Are  ftriving  to  hook  me  away  from  my  ftation, 
And  HOLT,  all  at  once,  is  as  wonderful  great 
As  if  none  but  himfelf  was  to  print  for  the  STATE. 
17 


258  RIVINGTON'S  CONFESSIONS. 

Ye  all  are  convinced  I'd  a  right  to  expeft 
That  a  (inner  returning  you  would  not  reje£— 
Quite  Tick  of  the  fcarlet  and  flaves  of  the  throne, 
'Tis  now  at  your  option  to  make  me  your  own. 

Suppofc  I  had  gone  with  the  Tories  and  rabble, 
To  ftarve  or  be  drown'd  on  the  (hoals  of  cape  Sable, 
I  had  fuffer'd,  'tis  true — but  I'll  have  you  to  know, 
You  nothing  had  gain'd  by  my  trouble  and  woe. 

You  fay  that  with  grief  and  deje&ion  of  heart 

I  pack'd  up  my  awls,  with  a  view  to  depart, 

That  my  (helves  were  difmantled,  my  cellars  unftor'd, 

My  boxes  afloat,  and  my  hampers  on  board  : 

And  hence  you  infer  (I  am  fure  without  reafon) 
That  a  right  you  poflefs  to  entangle  my  weazon — 
Yet  your  barns  I  ne'er  burnt,  nor  your  blood  have  I  fpilt, 
And  my  terror  alone  was  no  proof  of  my  guilt. 

The  charge  may  be  true — for  I  found  it  in  vain 
To  lean  on  a  ftaff  that  was  broken  in  twain, 
And  ere  I  had  gone  at  Port  Rofeway  to  fix, 
I  had  chofe  to  fell  drams  on  the  fouth  fide  of  Styx 

I  confefs,  that,  with  (hame  and  contrition  oppreft, 
I  fign'd  an  agreement  to  go  with  the  reft, 
But  ere  they  weigh'd  anchor  to  fail  their  laft  trip, 
I  faw  they  were  vermin,  and  gave  them  the  flip  : 


RIVINGTON  S    CONFESSIONS.  259 

Now,  why  you  fhould  call  me  the  worft  man  alive, 
On  the  word  of  a  convert,  I  cannot  contrive, 
Though  turn'd  a  plain  honeft  republican,  ftill 
You  own  me  no  profelyte,  do  what  I  will. 

My  paper  is  alter'd — good  people,  don't  fret ; 

I  call  it  no  longer  the  ROYAL  GAZETTE  ; 

To  me  a  great  monarch  has  loft  all  his  charms, 

I  have  pull'd  down  his  LION,  and  trampled  his  ARMS. 

While  fate  was  propitious,  I  thought  they  might  ftand, 
(You  know  I  was  zealous  for  George's  command) 
But  fmce  he  difgrac'd  it,  and  left  us  behind, 
If  I  thought  him  an  angel — I've  alter'd  my  mind. 

On  the  very  fame  day  that  his  army  went  hence 
I  ceas'd  to  tell  lies  for  the  fake  of  his  pence  ; 
And  what  was  the  reafon  ? — the  true  one  is  beft — 
I  worfhip  no  funs  when  they  hang  to  the  weft  : 

In  this  I  refemble  a  Turk  or  a  Moor, 
Bright  Phoebus  afcending,  I  proftrate  adore  ; 
And,  therefore,  excufe  me  for  printing  fome  lays, 
An  ode  or  a  fonnet  in  Wafhington's  praife. 

His  prudence,  and  caution  has  fav'd  your  dominions, 
This  chief  of  all  chiefs,  and  the  pride  of  Virginians  ! 
And  when  he  is  gone — I  pronounce  it  with  pain — 
We  fcarcely  {hall  meet  with  his  equal  again. 


260  RIVINGTON'S  CONFESSIONS. 

The  gods  for  that  hero  did  trouble  prepare, 

But  gave  him  a  mind  that  could  feed  upon  care, 

They  gave  him  a  fpirit,  ferenc  but  fevere, 

Above  all  diforder,  confufion,  and  fear ; 

In  him  it  was  fortune  where  others  would  fail : 

He  was  born  for  the  tempeft,  and  weather'd  the  gale.* 

Old  Plato  aflerted  that  life  is  a  dream 
And  man  but  a  fhadow,  a  cloud,  or  a  ftream  ; 
By  which  it  is  plain  he  intended  to  fay 
That  man,  like  a  fhadow,  muft  vanifti  away  : 

If  this  be  the  fa£,  in  relation  to  man, 
And  if  each  one  is  ftriving  to  get  what  he  can, 
I  hope,  while  I  live,  you  will  all  think  it  beft, 
To  allow  me  to  buftle  along  with  the  reft. 

A  view  of  my  life,  though  fome  parts  might  be  folemn, 
Would  make,  on  the  whole,  a  ridiculous  volume  ; 
In  the  life  that's  hereafter  (to  fpeak  with  fubmiffion) 
I  hope  I  fhall  publifli  a  better  edition : 

Even  fwine  you  permit  to  fubfift  in  the  ftreet ; — 
You  pity  a  dog  that  lies  down  to  be  beat — 
Then  forget  what  is  paft,  for  the  year's  at  a  clofe — 
And  men  of  my  age  have  fome  need  of  repofe. 

*  This  ftanz.i  is  added  in  the  edition  of  1809. 


RIVINGTON'S  CONFESSIONS.  261 

II. 

BUT  as  to  the  Tories  that  yet  may  remain, 
They  fcarcely  need  give  you  a  moment  of  pain  : 
What  dare  they  attempt  when  their  matters  are  fled  ;— 
When  the  foul  is  departed,  who  wars  with  the  dead  ? 

On  the  waves  of  the  Styx  had  they  rode  quarantine, 
They  could  not  have  look'd  more  infernally  lean 
Than  the  day,  when  repenting,  difmay'd  and  diftreft, 
Like  the  doves  to  their  windows,  they  ftuck  to  their  neft. 

Poor  fouls  !  for  the  love  of  the  king  and  his  nation 
They  have  had  their  full  quota  of  mortification  ; 
Wherever  they  fought,  or  whatever  they  won 
The  dream's  at  an  end — the  delufion  is  done. 

The  TEMPLE  you  rais'd  was  fo  wonderful  large 
Not  one  of  them  thought  you  could  anfwer  the  charge, 
It  feem'd  a  mere  caftle  conftru&ed  of  vapour, 
Surrounded  with  gibbets,  and  founded  on  PAPER. 

On  the  bafis  of  freedom  you  built  it  too  ftrong ! 
And  CARLETON  confefs'd,  when  you  held  it  fo  long, 
That  if  any  thing  human  the  fabric  could  matter, 
The  ROYAL  GAZETTE  muft  accomplifh  the  matter. 

An  engine  like  that,  in  fuch  hands  as  my  own 
Had  maken  king  CUDJOE*  himfelf  from  his  throne, 

*  The  negro  king  in  Jamaica  ;    whom  the  Englifli  declared  Independent  in 
1739- 


262  RIVINGTON'S  CONFESSIONS. 

In  another  rebellion  had  ruin'd  the  Scot, 

While  the  Pope  and  Pretender  had  both  gone  to  pot. 

If  you  flood  my  attacks,  I  have  nothing  to  fay — 
I  fought,  like  the  Swifs,  for  the  fake  of  my  pay  ; 
But  while  I  was  proving  your  fabric  unfound 
Our  veflel  mifs  djtay,  and  we  all  went  aground. 

Thus  ended  in  ruin  what  madnefs  begun, 
And  thus  was  our  nation  difgrac'd  and  undone, 
Renown'd  as  we  were,  and  the  lords  of  the  deep, 
If  our  outfet  was  folly,  our  exit  was  fleep. 

A  dominion  like  THIS,  that  fome  millions  had  coft  ! — 
The  king  might  have  wept  when  he  faw  it  was  loft  ; — 
This  jewel — whofe  value  I  cannot  defcribe  ; 
This  pearl — that  was  richer  than  all  his  Dutch  tribe. 

When  the  war  came  upon  us,  you  very  well  knew 
My  income  was  fmall  and  my  riches  were  few — 
If  your  money  was  fcarce,  and  your  profpe£b  were  bad, 
Why  hinder  me  printing  for  people  that  had  ? 

'Twou'd  have  pleas'd  you,  no  doubt,  had  I  gone  with  a  few 

fetts 

Of  books,  to  exift  in  your  cold  MafTachufetts  ; 
Or  to  wander  at  Newark,  like  ill  fated  HUGH, 
Not  a  fhirt  to  my  back,  or  a  foal  to  my  (hoe  : 

Now,  if  we  miftook  (as  we  did,  it  is  plain) 
Our  error  was  owing  to  wicked  HUGH  GAINE, 


RIVINGTON'S  CONFESSIONS.  263 

For  he  gave  fuch  accounts  of  your  ftarving  and  ftrife 
As  prov'd  that  his  pictures  were  drawn  from  the  life. 

The  part  that  I  acted,  by  fome  men  of  fenfe 
Was  wrongfully  held  to  be  malice  propenfe, 
When  to  all  the  world  elfe  it  was  perfectly  plain, 
One  principle  rul'd  me — a  paflion  for  gain. 

You  pretend  I  have  luffer'd  no  lofs  in  the  caufe, 

And  have,  therefore,  no  right  to  partake  of  your  laws  : 

Some  people  love  talking — I  find  to  my  coft, 
I  too  am  a  lofer— my  PENSION  is  loft  ! 

Nay,  did  not  your  printers  repeatedly  ftoop 

To  defcant  and  reflect  on  my  PORTABLE  SOUP  ? 

At  me  have  your  porcupines  darted  the  quill, 

You  have  plunder'd  my  Office  and  publifh'd  my  Will. 

Refolv'd  upon  mifchief,  you  held  it  no  crime 
To  fteal  my  Reflections,  and  print  them  in  rhyme, 
When  all  the  town  knew  (and  a  number  confefs'd) 
That  papers,  like  thefe,  were  no  caufe  of  arreft. 

You  never  confider'd  my  ftruggles  and  ftrife  ; 
That  my  lot  is  to  toil  and  to  worry  through  life ; 
My  windows  you  broke — not  a  pane  did  you  fpare — 
And  my  houfe  you  have  made  a  mere  old  man  of  war. 

And  ftill  you  infift  I've  no  right  to  complain  ! — 
Indeed  if  I  do,  I'm  afraid  it's  in  vain — 


264  RIVINGTON'S  CONFESSIONS. 

Yet  am  willing  to  hope  you're  too  learnedly  read 
To  hang  up  a  printer  for  being  milled. 

If  this  be  your  aim,  I  muft  think  of  a  flight — 
In  lefs  than  a  month  I  mud  bid  you  good  night, 
And  hurry  away  to  that  whelp-ridden  (bore 
Where  CLINTON  and  CARLETON  retreated  before. 

From  figns  in  the  fky,  and  from  tokens  on  land 
I'm  inclin'd  to  fufpect  my  departure's  at  hand : 
Old  Argo*  the  (hip, — in  a  peep  at  her  ftar, 
i.  found  they  were  fcraping  h^r  bottom  for  TAR  : 

For  many  nights  paft,  as  the  houfe  can  atteft, 
A  boy  with  a  feather-bed  troubled  my  rdt  : 
My  (hop,  the  laft  evening,  feem'd  all  in  a  blaze, 
And  a  HEN  crow'd  at  midnight,  my  waiting  man  fays  ; 

Even  then,  as  I  lay  with  ftrange  whims  in  my  head, 

A  ghoft  hove  in  fight,  not  a  yard  from  my  bed, 

It  feem'd  General  ROBERTSON,  brawly  array'd, 

But  I  grafp'd  at  the  fubftance,  and  found  him  a  fhade  ! 

He  appear'd  as  of  old,  when  head  of  the  throng, 
And  loaded  with  laurels,  he  waddled  along — 
He  feem'd  at  the  foot  of  my  bedftead  to  Hand 
And  cry'd — "Jamie  Rivington,  reach  me  your  hand  , 

*  A  fouthern  Conftellation  confiding  of  i4  ftars. 


RIVINGTON'S  CONFESSIONS. 

"  And  Jamie,  (faid  he)  I  am  forry  to  find 

u  Some  demon  advis'd  you  to  loiter  behind  ; 

"The  country  is  hoftile — you  had  better  get  off  it, 

"  Here's  nothing  but  fquabbles,  all  plague,  and  no  profit ! 

u  Since  the  day  that  Sir  William  came  here  with  his  throng 
"  He  manag'd  things  fo,  that  they  always  went  wrong ; 
ci  And  tho'  for  his    knighthood,  he  kept  MESCHIANZA, 
"  I  think  he  was  nothing  but  mere  Sancho  Panza  : 

u  That  famous  conductor  of  moon-light  retreats, 
"  Sir  HARRY,  came  next  with  his  armies  and  fleets, 
"  But,  finding  ''the  Rebels  were  dying  and  dead,' 
"  He  grounded  his  arms  and  retreated — to  bed. 

cc  Other  luck  we  had  once  at  the  battle  of  Boyne  ! 
"  But  here  they  have  ruin'd  Earl  Charles  and  Burgoyne, 
"  Here  brave  Colonel  Monckton  was  thrown  on  his  back, 
"  And  here  lies  poor  Andre  /  the  beft  of  the  pack." 

So  faying,  he  flitted  away  in  a  trice, 
Juft  adding,  "he  hop'd  I  would  take  his  advice" — 
Which  I  furely  fhall  do,  if  you  pufh  me  too  hard — 
And  fo  I  remain,  with  eternal  regard, 

JAMES  RIVINGTON,  Printer,  of  late  to  the  king, 

But  now  a  republican,  under  your  wing — 

Let  him  ftand  where  he  is — don't  pufh  him  down  hill, 

And  he'll  turn  a  true  Blue-Skin,  or  juft  what  you  will. 

\_December  31,  1783.] 


OCCASIONED   BY  GENERAL  WASHINGTON'S 

ARRIVAL    IN    PHILADELPHIA,    ON    HIS    WAY    TO    HIS    RESI 
DENCE    IN    VIRGINIA. 


*HPHE  great,  unequal  conflict  paft, 

The  Briton  banifh'd  from  our  ftiore, 

Peace,  heaven-defcended,  comes  at  laft, 
And  hoftile  nations  rage  no  more  ; 
From  fields  of  death  the  weary  fwain 
Returning,  feeks  his  native  plain. 

In  every  vale  (he  fmiles  ferene, 

Freedom's  bright  ftars  more  radiant  rife, 
New  charms  (he  adds  to  every  fcene, 
Her  brighter  fun  illumes  our  fkies : 
Remoteft  realms  admiring  ftand, 
And  hail  the  Hero  of  our  land  : 

He  comes  ! — the  Genius  of  thefe  lands — 
Fame's  thoufand  tongues  his  worth  confefs, 

Who  conquer'd  with  his  fuffcring  bands, 
And  grew  immortal  by  diftrefs  : 


4 

WASHINGTON'S  ARRIVAL  IN  PHILADELPHIA.        267 

Thus  calms  fucceed  the  ftormy  blaft, 
And  valour  is  repaid  at  laft. 

O  WASHINGTON  ! — thrice  glorious  name, 

What  due  rewards  can  man  decree — 
Empires  are  far  below  thy  aim, 

And  fceptres  have  no  charms  for  thee ; 
Virtue  alone  has  your  regard, 
And  {he  muft  be  your  great  reward. 

Encircled  by  extorted  power, 

Monarch*  muft  envy  your  Retreat 
Who  caft,  in  fome  ill  fated  hour, 

Their  country's  freedom  at  their  feet ; 
'Twas  yours  to  acl:  a  nobler  part, 
For  injur'd  Freedom  had  your  heart. 

For  ravag'd  realms  and  conquer'd  feas 
Rome  gave  the  great  imperial  prize, 
And,  fwell'd  with  pride,  for  feats  like  thefe, 
Transferred  her  heroes  to  the  fkies  : — 
A  brighter  fcene  your  deeds  difplay, 
You  gain  thofe  heights  a  different  way. 

When  Faftion  rear'd  her  briftly  head, 
And  join'd  with  tyrants  to  deftroy, 
Where'er  you  march'd  the  monfter  fled, 
Timorous  her  arrows  to  employ  : 

Hofts  catch'd  from  you  a  bolder  flame, 
And  defpots  trembled  at  your  name. 


268       WASHINGTON'S  ARRIVAL  IN  PHILADELPHIA. 

Ere  war's  dread  horrors  ceas'd  to  reign, 

What  leader  could  your  place  fupply  ? — 
Chiefs  crowded  to  the  embattled  plain, 
Prepar'd  to  conquer  or  to  die — 
Heroes  arofe — but  none,  like  you, 
Could  fave  our  lives  and  freedom  too. 

In  fwelling  verfe  let  kings  be  read, 

And  princes  (bine  in  polifh'd  profe ; 
Without  fuch  aid  your  triumphs  fpread 
Where'er  the  convex  ocean  flows, 
To  Indian  worlds  by  feas  embrac'd, 
And  Tartar,  tyrant  of  the  wafte. 

Throughout  the  eaft  you  gain  applaufe, 

And  foon  the  Old  IVorld,  taught  by  you, 
Shall  blufh  to  own  her  barbarous  laws, 
Shall  learn  inftruclion  from  the  New : 
Monarchs  (hall  hear  the  humble  plea, 
Nor  urge  too  far  the  proud  decree. 

Defpifmg  pomp  and  vain  parade, 

At  home  you  ftay,  while  France  and  Spain 
The  fecret,  ardent  wifh  convey'd, 

And  hail'd  you  to  their  (bores  in  vain  : 
In  demon's  groves  you  fhun  the  throne, 
Admir'd  by  kings,  but  feen  by  none. 

Your  fame,  thus  fpread  to  diftant  lands, 
May  envy's  fierceft  blafts  endure, 


WASHINGTON'S  ARRIVAL  IN  PHILADELPHIA.        269 

Like  Egypt's  pyramids  it  (lands, 
Built  on  a  bafis  more  fecure  ; 

Time's  lateft  age  fhall  own  in  you 
The  patriot  and  the  ftatefman  too. 

Now  hurrying  from  the  bufy  fcene, 

Where  thy  Potowmack's  waters  flow, 
May'ft  thou  enjoy  thy  rural  reign, 
And  every  earthly  bleffing  know ; 

Thus  HE,*  who  Rome's  proud  legions  fway'd, 
Return'd,  and  fought  his  fylvan  {hade. 

Not  lefs  in  wifdom  than  in  war 

Freedom  fhall  ftill  employ  your  mind, 
Slavery  muft  vanim,  wide  and  far, 
'Till  not  a  trace  is  left  behind  ; 

Your  counfels  not  beftow'd  in  vain, 
Shall  ftill  protect  this  infant  reign. 

So,  when  the  bright,  all-cheering  fun 
From  our  contracted  view  retires, 
Though  folly  deems  his  race  is  run, 
On  other  worlds  he  lights  his  fires : 

Cold  climes  beneath  his  influence  glow, 

And  frozen  rivers  learn  to  flow.  * 

O  fay,  thou  great,  exalted  name  ! 
What  Mufe  can  boaft  of  equal  lays, 

*  Cincinnatus. 


270        WASHINGTON'S  ARRIVAL  IN  PHILADELPHIA. 

Thy  worth  difdains  all  vulgar  fame, 
Tranfcends  the  nobleft  poet's  praife : 
Art  (bars,  unequal  to  the  flight, 
And  genius  fickens  at  the  height. 

For  States  redeem'd — our  weftern  reign 

Reftor'd  by  thee  to  milder  fway, 
Thy  confcious  glory  (hall  remain 

When  this  great  globe  is  fwept  away, 
And  all  is  loft  that  pride  admires, 
And  all  the  pageant  fcene  expires. 


THE    TRIUMPHAL    ARCH. 

Occafioned  by  rejoicings  in  Philadelphia  on  the  acknowledgment  of  the  National 
Independence. 

COWARD  the  Ikies 
What  columns  rife 
In  Roman  ftyle,  profufely  great ! 
What  lamps  afcend, 
What  arches  bend, 

And  fwell  with  more  than  Roman  ftate  ! 
High  o'er  the  central  arch  difplay'd, 
Old  Janus  {huts  his  temple  door, 
And  (hackles  war  in  darkeft  {hade — 
Saturnian  times  in  view  once  more. 

Pride  of  the  human  race,  behold 

In  Gallia's  prince  the  virtues  glow, 
Whofe  conduct  prov'd,  whofe  goodnefs  told 

That  kings  can  feel  for  human  woe. 
Thrice  happy  France,  in  Louis  bleft, 
Thy  genius  droops  her  head  no  more  ; 

In  the  calm  virtues  of  the  mind 

Equal  to  him  no  Titus  {hin'd — 
No  Trajan — whom  mankind  adore. 


THE    TRIUMPHAL    ARCH. 

Another  fcene  too  foon  difplays  ! 

Griefs  have  their  fhare,  and  claim  their  part, 
They  monuments  to  ruin  raife, 

And  fhed  keen  anguifh  o'er  the  heart : 
Thofe  heroes  that  in  battle  fell 
Demand  a  fympathetic  tear, 
Who  fought,  our  tyrants  to  repell — 
Memory  preferves  their  laurels  here. 
In  vernal  fkies 
Thus  tempefts  rife, 

And  clouds  obfcure  the  brighteft  fun — 
Few  wreathes  are  gain'd 
With  blood  unftain'd — 
No  honours  without  ruin  won. 

The  arms  of  France  three  lillies  mark — 
In  honour's  dome  with  thefe  enroll'd 

The  plough,  the  (heaf,  the  gliding  barque 
The  riches  of  our  State  unfold. 

Ally'd  in  heaven,  a  fun  and  ftars 

Friendfhip  and  peace  with  France  declare — 
The  branch  fucceeds  the  fpear  of  Mars, 

Commerce  repairs  the  waftes  of  war  ; 
In  ties  of  concord  ancient  foes  engage, 
Proving  the  day-fpring  of  a  brighter  age. 
Thefe  STATES  defended  by  the  brave, 

Their  military  trophies,  fee  ! 
The  virtue  that  of  old  did  fave 

Shall  flill  maintain  them,  great  and  free  ,• 


THE    TRIUMPHAL    ARCH. 


273 


Arts  fhall  pervade  the  weftern  wild, 
And  favage  hearts  become  more  mild. 

Of  fcience  proud,  the  fource  of  fway, 

Lo  !   emblematic  figures  mine  ; 
The  arts  their  kindred  forms  difplay, 

Manners  to  foften  and  refine : 
A  {lately  Tree  to  heav'n  its  fummit  fends, 
And  clufter'd  fruit  from  thirteen  boughs  depends. 

With  laurel  crown'd 
A  chief  renown'd 

(His  country  fav'd)  his  faulchion  meathes ; 
Neglects  his  fpoils 
For  rural  toils, 

And  crowns  his  plough  with  laurel  wreaths  : — 
While  we  this  Roman  chief  furvey, 

What  apt  refemblance  ftrikes  the  eye  ! 
Thofe  features  to  the  foul  convey 
A  WASHINGTON,  in  fame  as  high, 
Whofe  prudent,  perfevering  mind 
Patience  with  manly  courage  join'd, 
And  when  difgrace  and  death  were  near, 

Look'd  through  the  dark  diftrefling  made, 
Struck  hoftile  Britons  with  unwonted  fear, 

And  blafted  their  beft  hopes,  and  pride  in  ruin  laid 

Victorious  Virtue  !  aid  me  to  purfue 
The  tributary  verfe,  to  triumphs  due — 
18 


274  THE    TRIUMPHAL    ARCH. 

Behold  the  peafant  leave  his  lowly  (bed, 

Where  tufted  forefts  round  him  grow  ; — 
Though  clouds  the  dark  flcy  overfpread, 
War's  dreadful  art  his  arm  eflays, 
He  meets  the  hoftile  cannon's  blaze, 
And  pours  redoubled  vengeance  on  the  foe. 

Born  to  protect  and  guard  our  native  land, 
Victorious  Virtue  !  ftill  preferve  us  free  ; 
PLENTY — gay  child  of  peace,  thy  horn  expand, 

And,  CONCORD,  teach  us  to  agree  ! 
May  every  virtue  that  adorns  the  foul 

Be  here  advanc'd  to  heights  unknown  before  ; 
Pacific  ages  in  fucceflion  roll 

'Till  Nature  blots  the  fcene, 
Chaos  refumes  her  reign 

And  heaven  with  pleafure  views  its  works  no  more. 
[Philadelphia,  May  10.  1784.] 


ON  THE  DEATH  OF  A  REPUBLICAN  PATRIOT  AND 
STATESMAN.* 

OOON  to  the  grave  defcends  each  honour'd  name 
That  rais'd  their  country  to  this  blaze  of  fame : 
Sages,  that  plann'd,  and  chiefs  that  led  the  way 
To  Freedom's  temple,  all  too  foon  decay, 
Alike  fubmit  to  one  impartial  doom, 
Their  glories  clofmg  in  perpetual  gloom, 
Like  the  bright  fplendours  of  the  evening,  fade, 
While  night  advances,  to  complete  the  fhade. 

REED,  'tis  for  thee  we  {hed  the  unpurchas'd  tear, 
Bend  o'er  thy  tomb,  and  plant  our  laurels  there  : 
Your  acts,  your  life,  the  nobleft  pile  tranfcend, 
And  Virtue,  patriot  Virtue,  mourns  her  friend, 
Gone  to  thofe  realms,  where  worth  may  claim  regard, 
And  gone  where  virtue  meets  her  beft  reward. 

*  General  Jofeph  Reed  died  in  Philadelphia,  March  5,  1785.  Educated  at 
the  College  of  New  Jerfey,  he  was  bred  to  the  law,  pafled  much  of  his  youth 
and  early  manhood  in  England,  returned  home  previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war  for  independence,  and  took  part  in  the  preliminary  civil  proceedings  as  a  dele 
gate  to  the  old  Continental  Congrefs,  and  in  other  capacities.  He  was  aide  and 
fecretary  to  Wafhington,  and  fubfequently  adjutant-general.  Refigning  this 
office,  he  continued  to  ferve  in  the  army  as  a  volunteer.  He  was  a  member  of 
Congrefs  in  1778. 


276  DEATH    OF    A    REPUBLICAN    PATRIOT. 

No  fingle  art  engag'd  his  vigorous  mind, 
In  every  fcene  his  a&ive  genius  fhin'd  : 
Nature  in  him,  in  honour  to  our  age, 
At  once  compos'd  the  foldier  and  the  fage — 
Firm  to  his  purpofe,  vigilant  and  bold, 
Detefting  traitors,  and  defpifmg  gold, 
He  fcorn'd  all  bribes  from  Britain's  hoftile  throne, 
For  all  his  country's  wrongs  he  held  his  own. 

REED,  reft  in  peace :  for  time's  impartial  page 
Shall  raife  the  blufh  on  this  ungrateful  age : 
Long  in  thefe  climes  thy  name  (hall  flourifh  fair, 
The  ftatefman's  pattern  and  the  poet's  care  ; 
Long  in  thefe  climes  thy  memory  (hall  remain, 
And  ftill  new  tributes  from  new  ages  gain, 
Fair  to  the  eye  that  injur'd  honour  rife — 
Nor  traitors  triumph  while  the  patriot  dies. 


A   RENEGADO    EPISTLE   TO    THE   INDEPENDENT 
AMERICANS. 

Tories,  who  lately  were  frighten'd  away, 
When  you  march'd  into  York  all  in  battle  array, 
Dear  whigs,  in  our  exile  have  fomewhat  to  fay. 

From  the  clime  of  New  Scotland  we  wifh  you  to  know 
We  ftill  are  in  being — mere  fpeclres  of  woe, 
Our  dignity  high,  but  our  fpirits  are  low. 

Great  people  we  are,  and  are  call'd  the  king's  friends — 

But  on  friendfhips  like  thefe  what  advantage  attends  ? 

We  may  ftay  and  be  ftarv'd  when  weVe  anfwer'd  his  ends  ! 

The  Indians  themfelves,  whom  no  treaties  can  bind, 
We  have  reafon  to  think  are  perverfely  inclin'd — 
And  where  we  have  friends  is  not  eafy  to  find. 

From  the  day  we  arriv'd  on  this  defolate  more 
We  ftill  have  been  wifhing  to  fee  you  once  more, 
And  your  freedom  enjoy,  now  the  danger  is  o'er. 

Although  we  be-rebel'd  you  up  hill  and  down, 
It  was  all  for  your  good — and  to  honour  a  crown 
Whofe  fplendors  have  fpoil'd  better  eyes  than  our  ">wn. 


278  A    RENEGADO    EPISTLE. 

That  villains  we  are,  is  no  more  than  our  due, 
And  fo  may  remain  for  a  century  through, 
Unlefs  we  return,  and  be  tutor'd  by  you. 

Although  with  the  dregs  of  the  world  we  are  clafs'd, 

We  hope  your  refentment  will  foften  at  laft, 

Now  your  toils  are  repaid,  and  our  triumphs  are  paft. 

When  a  matter  is  done,  'tis  a  folly  to  fret — 
But  your  market-day  mornings  we  cannot  forget, 
With  your  coaches  to  lend,  and  your  horfes  to  let, 

Your  dinners  of  beef,  and  your  breakfafts  of  toa/i  ! 
But  we  have  no  longer  fuch  bleflings  to  boaft, 
No  cattle  to  fteal,  and  no  turkies  to  roaft. 

Such  enjoyments  as  thefe,  we  muft  tell  you  with  pain, 
'Tis  odds  we  (hall  only  be  wifhing  in  vain 
Unlefs  we  return  and  be  brothers  again. 

We  burnt  up  your  mills  and  your  meetings,  'tis  true, 
And  many  bold  fellows  we  crippled  and  flew — 
(Aye  !  we  were  the  boys  that  had  fomething  to  do  !) 

Old  HUDDY  we  hung  on  the  Neverfink  fhore — 
But,  Sirs,  had  we  hung  up  a  thoufand  men  more, 
They  had  all  been  aveng'd  in  the  torments  we  bore, 

When  ASGILL  to  Jerfey  you  foolifhly  fetch'd, 

And  each  of  us  fear'd  that  his  neck  would  be  ftretch'd, 

When  you  were  be-rebePd,  and  we  were  be-wretch'd. 


A    RENEGADO    EPISTLE.  279 

In  the  book  of  deftru&ion  it  feems  to  be  written 
The  Tories  muft  ftill  be  dependent  on  Britain — 
The  word  of  dependence  that  ever  was  hit  on. 

Now  their  work  is  concluded — that  pitiful  job — 
They  fend  over  convicts  to  ftrengthen  our  mob — 
And  fo  we  do  nothing  but  fnivel  and  fob 

The  worft  of  all  countries  has  fall'n  to  our  (hare, 
Where  winter  and  famine  provoke  our  defpair, 
And  fogs  are  forever  obfcuring  the  air. 

Although  there  be  nothing  but  fea  dogs  to  feed  on, 
Our  friend  Jemmy  Rivington  made  it  an  Eden — 
But,  alas  !   he  had  nothing  but  lies  to  proceed  on. 

Deceived  we  were  all  by  his  damnable  fchemes — 
When  he  colour'd  it  over  with  gardens  and  ftreams, 
And  grottoes  and  groves,  and  the  reft  of  his  dreams. 

Our  heads  were  fo  turn'd  by  that  conjurer's  fpell, 
We  fwallow'd  the  lies  he  was  order'd  to  tell — 
But  his  "happy  retreats"  were  the  vifions  of  hell. 

We  feel  fo  enrag'd  we  could  rip  up  his  weazon, 

When  we  think  of  the  foil  he  defcrib'd  with  its  trees  on, 

And  the  plenty  that  reign'd,  and  the  charms  of  each  feafon. 

Like  a  parfon  that  tells  of  the  joys  of  the  bleft 
To  a  man  to  be  hang'd — he  himfelf  thought  it  beft 
To  remain  where  he  was,  in  his  haven  of  reft. 


28O  A    RENEGADO    EPISTLE. 

Since  he  help'd  us  away  by  the  means  of  his  types, 
His  precepts  fhould  only  have  lighted  our  pipes, 
His  example  was  rather  to  honour  your  ftripes. 

Now,  if  we  return,  as  we're  bone  of  your  bone, 

We'll  renounce  all  allegiance  to  George  and  his  throne 

And  be  the  bcft  fubje&s  that  ever  were  known. 

In  a  (hip,  you  have  feen  (where  the  duty  is  hard) 
The  cook  and  the  fcullion  may  claim  fome  regard, 
Tho'  it  takes  a  good  fellow  to  brace  the  main  yard. 

Howe'er  you  defpife  us,  becaufe  you  are  free, 
The  world's  at  a  lofs  for  fuch  people  as  we, 
Who  can  pillage  on  land,  and  can  plunder  at  fea. 

So  long  for  our  rations  they  keep  us  in  waiting — 
The  lords  and  the  commons,  perhaps,  are  debating 
If  Tories  can  live  without  drinking  or  eating. 

So  we  think  it  is  better  to  fee  you  by  far — 
And  have  hinted  our  meaning  to  governor  PARR — * 
The  worft  that  can  happen  is — -feathers  and  tar. 
[Nova  Scot! 'a ,  Feb.  1784.] 


*  Then  Governor  of  Nova  Scotia. 


ON  THE  LEGISLATURE  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN  PRO 
HIBITING  THE  SALE  OF 

DOCT.  DAVID  RAMSAY'S  "  HISTORY  OF  THE  REVOLUTION 
OF  SOUTH-CAROLINA,"  IN  LONDON. * 

OOME  bold  bully  Dawfon,  expert  in  abufing, 

Having  pafs'd  all  his  life  in  the  practice  of  bruifmg, 
At  laft,  when  he  thinks  to  reform  and  repent, 
And  wifhes  his  days  had  been  foberly  fpent, 
Though  a  courfe  of  contrition  in  earneft  begins, 
He  fcarcely  can  bear  to  be  told  of  his  fins. 

So,  the  Britiih,  worn  out  with  their  wars  in  the  weft, 
(Where  burning  and  murder  their  prowefs  confeft,) 
When  at  laft  they  agreed  'twas  in  vain  to  contend, 
(For  the  days  of  their  thieving  were  come  to  an  end) 
They  got  their  hiftorians  to  fcribble  and  flatter, 
And  foolifhly  thought  they  could  hufh  up  the  matter. 

But  RAMSAY  arofe,  and  with  TRUTH  on  his  fide, 
Has  told  to  the  world  what  they  laboured  to  hide, 
With  his  pen  of  direction,  and  pointed  with  fteel, 
If  they  ne'er  before  felt — he  has  taught  them  to  feel, 

*   David  Ramfay's  "  Hiftory  of  the  Revolution  in  South  Carolina."  was  pub- 
lifted  at  Trenton,  New  Jerfey,  in  1785. 


282         SALE  OF  RAMSAY'S  HISTORY  PROHIBITED. 

Themfelves  and  their  projects  has  truly  defin'd, 
And  tlrag'd  them  to  blufh  at  the  bar  of  mankind. 

As  the  author,  his  friends,  and  the  world  might  expe6l, 
They  find  that  the  work  has  a  damning  effe£  j 
In  reply  to  his  fails  they  abufe  him  and  rail, 
And,  prompted  by  malice,  prohibit  the  fale. 

But,  we  truft,  their  chaftifement  is  only  begun — 
Thirteen  are  the  dates — and  he  writes  but  of  one; 
Ere  the  twelve  that  are  filent  their  ftory  have  told, 

THE  KING  WILL  RUN  MAD AND  THE   BoOK  WILL  BE  SOLD. 


THE 

PYRAMID 

OF      THE 

FIFTEEN     AMERICAN     STATES. 


BARBARA  Pyramidum  fileat  miracula  Memphis;* 

Heu,  male  fervili  marmora  ftrufta  manu ! 
Libera  jam,  ruptis,  Atlantias  ora,  catenis, 

Jaftat  opus  Phario  marmore  nobilius  : 
Namque  Columbiadae,  fa£H  monumenta  parantes, 

Vulgarem  fpernunt  fumere  materiam  ; 
Magnanimi  ccelum  fcandunt,  perituraque  faxa 

Quod  vincat,  celfa  de  Jovis  arce  petunt. 
Audax  inde  cohors  ftellis  £  Pluribui  Unum 

Ardua  Pyramidos  tollit  ad  aftra  caput. 
Ergo,  Tempus  edax,  quamvis  durifiima  faevo 

Saxa  domas  morfu,  nil  ibi  juris  habes  : 
Dumque  polo  Colitis  cognata  nitoribus  ardect 

Sidera  fulgebit  Pyramis  ilia  fuis! 

[T  RA  N  SLA  T  10  N .] 

'O  more  let  barbarous  MEMPHIS  boaft 

Huge  ftrucStures  rear'd  by  fervile  hands — 
A  nation  on  the  Atlantic  coaft 

Fetter'd  no  more  in  foreign  bands, 

*  The  Latin  verfes  were  written  by  Mr.  JOHN  CAREY,  formerly  of  Philadelphia 


N1 


284  THE    PYRAMID    OF    THE    STATES. 

A  nobler  PYRAMID  difplays 

Than  Egypt's  marble  e'er  could  raife. 

COLUMBIA'S  fons,  to  extend  the  fame 
Of  their  bold  deeds  to  future  years 

No  marble  from  the  quarry  claim, 
But,  foaring  to  the  ftarry  fpheres, 

Materials  feek  in  Jove's  blue  fky 

To  endure  when  brafs  and  marble  die  ! 

Arriv'd  among  the  fhining  hoft, 
Fearlefs,  the  proud  invaders  fpoil 

From  countlefs  gems,  in  aether  loft, 

THESE  STARS,  to  crown  their  mighty  toil 

To  heaven  a  PYRAMID  they  rear 

And  point  the  fummit  with  a  ftar. 

Old  wafteful  TIME  !  though  ftill  you  gain 
Dominion  o'er  the  brazen  tower, 

On  THIS  your  teeth  mall  gnaw  in  vain, 
Pending  its  ftrength  beyond  their  power : 

While  kindred  ftars  in  aether  glow, 

THIS  PYRAMID  WILL  SHINE  BELOW  i 


INDEX    OF    NAMES. 


ADAMS,  Mrs.  Abigail,  20. 

Adams,  John,  20. 

Adams,  Samuel,  26. 

Affleck,  Commodore,  136. 

Alexander  the  Great,  45. 

Ali,  Hyder,  148,  149,  208. 

Allibone,  S.  Auftin,  xii. 

Amherft,  General,  25,  26. 

Amos,  15. 

Andre,  Major,  153,  265. 

Arnold,  General,  x,  101,  117,  124,  151, 

201. 

Afgill,  Captain,  218,  278. 
Atabilipa,  2. 
Auchmuty,  Rev.  S.,  233,  234. 

Bailey,  Francis,  xii,  xvi,  xvii. 
Barclay,  Rev.  Dr.,  233. 
Barlow,  Joel,  52. 
Barney,  Jofhua,  171,  174. 
Barry,  Commodore,  57. 
Biddle,  Captain,  60,  61—3. 
Bell,  Robert,  43. 
Bernard j  Sir  Francis,  17. 
Booth,  Mary,  86. 
Brackenridge,  H.  H.,  x.,  xii 
Braddock,  General,  25. 
Brevoort,  Henry,  xxxvi. 
Brownjohn,  Dr.,  225. 
Brunfwick,  Duke  of,  xxxvi. 


Burgoyne,  General,  26,  34,  47,  50,  52, 

66,  127,  168,  265. 
Burke,  Edmund,  73. 
Burr,  Aaron,  x. 
Bute,  Lord,  246. 

Csfar,  65. 

Cain,  45. 

Camillus,  n. 

Campbell,  Thomas,  xxxv. 

Carey,  John,  283. 

Carey,  Matthew,  xix. 

Carleton,  Sir  Guy,  190,  208,  212,  261, 

264. 

Catharine  II.,  76. 
Cato,  15. 
Charles  I.,  68. 
Charles  V.,  75. 
Cincinnatus,  269. 
Clinton,  De  Witt,  xix. 
Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  26,  71,  118,  124, 

125,  128,  136,  138,  152,  153,  166, 

186,  192,  208,  215,  218,  219,  264 

-265. 

Clive,  Lord,  47. 

Golden,  Lieutenant-Governor,  227. 
Collier,  Sir  George,  82. 
Columbus,  2. 
Cooper,  James   Fenimore,   56,   57,   60, 

61,  105,  119. 


286 


INUi-X    OF    NAMES. 


Cooper,  Mylcs,  234. 

Cornwallis,    General,    117,    120,    in, 

124,  117,  128,  129,  130,  132,  153, 

168,  188,  215,  265. 
Cortez,  a,  9. 
Cudjoe,  King,  261. 

Darwin,  Erafmus,  xxxvii. 

Dawlbn,  281. 

De  GralFc,  Admiral,  149,  181. 

D'Eftaing,  72. 

Dibdin,  Thomas,  xxvii. 

Digby,  Admiral,  125,  136,  137,  108. 

Domitian,  45. 

Dunmore,  Lord,  23,  24,  122,  123,  139. 

Eden,  Robert,  140. 

Fabricius,  II. 
Fontaine,  John,  viii. 
Forman,  David,  xxxii. 
Forman,  Dcnife,  xxxii. 
Forman,  Jonathan,  xxxii. 
Forman,  Samu'-l,  xxxii. 
Fox,  Charles  James,  69,  70,  72,  73. 
Francis,  John  W.,  xxviii,  xxx. 
Franklin,  xix,  14,  56. 
Franklin,  Governor,  219. 
Franklin,  William,  140. 
Frauncea,  Samuel,  229,  230. 
Frcneau,  Andrew,  viii,  ix. 
Freneau,  Mrs.  Eleanor,  xxxii. 
Freneau,  Peter,  ix,  xix,  xxx. 
Freneau,  Philip,  vii-xxxviii,  142. 
Freneau,  Philip  L.,  xxxi. 
Freneau,  Pierre,  viii,  ix. 
Frothingham,  Richard,  20. 

Gage.  General,  20,  ai,  25,  26,  32,  33, 
35.  36»  38»  39.  40,  <5»  66,  127, 
190,  228,  234. 


Guine,    Hugh,    xi,    x*iv,    xxxiv,    154, 

2:14-240,  262. 
Galvez,  Don,  149. 
Gates,  General,  48,  131. 
George  II.,  42. 
George   III.,   26,    27,   29,   30,   34,   39, 

45>  46,  65,  66,  69,  93,  in,  113, 

'36»  '37,  144,  147,  »95»  »°6»  -°7, 

439,  246,  252,  259,  280. 
George  IV.,  75,  252. 
Genet,  xxi. 

Germaine,  Lord,  122,  123. 
Goodrich,  Captain,  55. 
Graves,  Admiral,  23,  26,  33,  125. 
Greene,  General,  134,  135,  153,  244. 
Grey,  xxix. 

Halleck,  Fitz  Greene,  34. 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  xxi,  229,  241. 

Hancock,  John,  26. 

Hayne,  Colonel,  243. 

Herod,  45. 

Homer,  n. 

Hood,  Sir  Samuel,  137. 

Hopkinfon,  Francis,  xix,  142. 

Horace,  xxii,  xxxiv,  5,  202. 

Hofack,  Dr.,  xxx. 

Howe,  General,  26,  35,  71,  114,  127, 

190,  215,  219,  232,  237,  265. 
Huddy,  Captain,  199,  218,  278. 
Hull,  Commodore,  xxvi. 
Hutchinfon,  Governor,  25. 

Irving,  Washington,  xi,  25,  52,  219. 
Ifui.ih,  15. 

James  II.,  68. 
[.irvi  ,  John  Wefley,  xxx. 
JefTeries,  Judge,  33. 
JerFerfon,  Thomas,  xx,  xxi. 
Jeffrey,  Francis,  xxix. 


INDEX    OF    NAMES. 


28' 


Jeremiah,  15. 
[ohnftone,  Admiral,  253. 
Johnftone,  Commodore,  74,  147. 
Jones,  Paul,  56,  102,  105-9. 

Kerr,  Charles,  181. 
Knap,  John  Coghill,  154,  137. 
Knyphaufen,  Baron,  loo,  152. 
Kollock,  257. 

Lafayette,  132. 

Landais,  Captain,  56,  57. 

Laurens,  Colonel,  57,  241,  442. 

Laurens,  Henry,  241. 

Leadbeater,  Mrs.,  xxxi. 

Lee,  General  Charles,  29,  34. 

Lippencott,  Captain,  218. 

Livingfton,  Edward,  xix. 

Longworth,  David,  xxvi. 

Loudon,  257. 

Louis  XIV.,  vii. 

Louis  XVI.,  39,  192,  207,  271. 

Lucretius,  xxv. 

Ludlow,  Captain,  218. 

Macdonough,  Commodore,  xxvi. 
Mackenzie,  Slidell,  105. 
Madifon,  x,  xxix. 
Magraw,  Dr.,  225. 
Manly,  Captain,  82. 
Mansfield,  Lord,  74. 
Marshall,  John,  134. 
Martin,  Jofeph,  140. 
Martin,  Theodore,  202. 
Matthews,  David,  153,  237. 
Maury,  Ann,  viii. 
McCrea,  Jane,  52. 
Mercer,  General,  51. 
Milton,  xxxiv. 
Monckton,  Colonel,  265. 
Monk,  General,  170. 


Montague,  Captain,  23,  24. 
Montezuma,  10. 
Montrefor,  Captain,  234. 
Moore,  Thomas,  xxxvii. 
Moultrie,  General,  241. 
Mofes,  232. 

Nebuchadnezzar,  in. 
Nelfon,  Lord,  60. 
Nero,  45,  46,  101,  130. 
Nimrod,  45. 

Nicholfon,  Captain,  118,  119. 
North,  Lord,  24,  26,   27,  30,  35,  69, 
72>  73>  74,  *46. 

Ogden,  Colonel,  137. 
Orpheus,  13. 
Ovid,  xxv. 

Parke,  John,  xix. 

Parker,  226. 

Parr,  Governor,  280. 

Parfons,  General,  187. 

Peale,  Rembrandt,  xxx. 

Pearfon,  Captain,  105,  108,  109. 

Penn,  William,  7.  J^ 

Percy,  Lord,  34,  36,  38. 

Phipps,  Captain,  60. 

Pintard,  John,  xix,  xxx. 

Pitt,  William,  74. 

Pizarro,  9. 

Pope,  Alexander,  xxxvii. 

Porter,  Commodore,  xxvi. 

Provooft,  Bifhop,  ix. 

Putnam,  General,  38. 

Ramfay,  David,  281. 

Rawdon,  Lord,  125. 

Reed,  General,  275. 

Rittenhoufe,  David,  xix. 

Rivington,    James,    xxiv,    xxxiv,    140, 


288 


INDEX    OF    NAMES. 


141,  144,  146,  150,  182,  190,  aio, 
215-223,  225,  236,  256-265,  279. 

Robertfon,  General,  136,  152,  153, 
197,  218,  222,  223,  264. 

Robin,  Abbe,  xvii. 

Rochambeau,  xvii,  121. 

Rodney,  Admiral,  136,  181. 

Rogen,  Captain,  174,  177. 

Sabine,  Lorenzo,  234,  237. 

Sackville,  73. 

Sandwich,  Lord,  73. 

Sappho,  xxxv. 

Scipio,  15. 

Scott,  Sir  Walter,  xxxv,  xxxvi. 

Sears,  Ifaac,  142,  229,  130,  234. 

Seneca,  xi. 

S-ymour,  Governor,  xxxii. 

Shelburne,  Lord,  216. 

Skinner,  Cortlandt,  237,  250. 

Smith,  Colonel,  34. 

Smollett,  21. 

Solon,  15. 

Sparks,  Jared,  219. 

Spring,  Gardiner,  x. 

Spring,  Samuel,  x. 

Sproat,  David,  90. 

Stum,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  134. 

Stu.rt,  Gilbert,  xxxi. 

Suffrein,  147. 


The  -dore,  King  of  Corfica,  220. 

Thomas,  Ifaiah,  224. 

Titus,  271. 

Trajan,  271. 

Trumbull,  John,  xxxi,  74,  142,  234. 

Tryon,  William,  23,  24,  100,  140,  187. 

Vandeput,  Captain,  229. 
Vafa,  Guftavus,  116 
Vaughan,  100. 
Vergennes,  Count  de,  219. 
Verplanck,  G.  C..  xxvi. 
Vincent,  Captain,  61. 
Virgil,  202. 

Wallace,  Sir  James,  23,  35. 

Walpole,  Horace,  220. 

Wafliington,  xv,  xxi,  9,  20,  26,  29,  51, 
114,  120,  121,  132,  149,  153,  218, 
219,  231,  241,  259,  266-270,  275. 

Weyman,  226. 

White,  Philip,  218. 

Whitehead,  Paul,  248. 

Willett,  Marinus,  xix. 

William  Henry,  Prince,  125,  136-8, 
207-8. 

Witherfpoon,  Dr.,  142. 

Witherfpoon,  John,  x. 

Wolfe,  8. 


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